The Weekly Theme
Each week, we feature a new theme of solutions for those passionate about learning in-depth on how we are building a better world!
If you want to live in this Arizona community, you’ll have to ditch your car
Try and imagine your life without a car. No noisy engines, no busy asphalt streets, your grocery store within walking distance. This is the vision for Culdesac Tempe, a new development slated for 2020 in the fast-growing outskirts of Phoenix. The project will house 1,000 people, all without cars. Read More...
What Norwegians can teach us about beating the winter blues
Today the sun will set in the Norwegian capital of Oslo at 3:30 pm. That sounds awful, especially for those of us living in the US, and makes us beg the question: how do nordic countries beat the winter blues when sunlight is so fleeting? One Stanford researcher, Kari Leibowitz, spent a winter in Read More...
Sustainable fashion: this water-proof parka is made from recycled PET bottles
When it comes to coats and jackets, choosing a light-yet-durable option is best, so you don’t find yourself in a mummy-tight arctic coat when all you really need is a lightweight, waterproof shell. That is where the Maium Lightweight Parka comes in to play. Both light and waterproof, this parka Read More...
OK Boomer? OK Millennial? The benefits of cross-generation collaboration
If you’ve ever had the experience of teaching an elderly relative how to use their smartphone, you may be familiar with some of the frustrations of working with a different generation. Although different generations of workers may bring different approaches, ideas, and strategies to the Read More...
OPTIMIST VIEW: Holiday Conversations - How to keep it positive
Let’s talk about the Optimist in the room "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." G.K. Chesterton By Amelia Buckley The holiday season kicks off in the autumn with Thanksgiving, and extends through the New Year in Read More...
We cannot overestimate how important fungi is for storing carbon in soil
Humans have long relied on fungi for sustenance and, er, inspiration. With that said, scientists are only just discovering how incredibly important fungi are for the Earth’s ability to store carbon. Human activity, especially large-scale agriculture, has severely affected a delicate and Read More...
How a neighborhood dedicated to farming sprung up in inner-city Detroit
Have you ever heard of an agrihood? Unlike urban farms and gardens, agrihoods are entire neighborhoods dedicated to agriculture. Nationwide, there are about 90 of these agrihoods, with most of them being home to affluent millennials looking for close proximity to fresh and “clean” foods. But Read More...
3D-printed meat could appear on restaurant menus in the coming years
After the success of the plant-based meat industry leaders, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, the next food sensation is entering the game: 3D-printed steaks and chicken things. That’s right, some startups across the world are getting ready to serve up realistic 3D-printed beef and chicken Read More...
Restore Oakland brings together design and restorative justice programs
Innovative prison systems in countries like Norway and Denmark are demonstrating the power of restorative justice for reforming our criminal systems. Restore Oakland, a center in Oakland, is adopting principles of rehabilitation and community strength to end the cycle of mass incarceration in their Read More...
Moving beyond burgers: lab-cultured meat could bring us ethical steaks
Although plant-based meat startups, such as Impossible Foods, have been in the limelight lately, there are still startups that are working on ethical meat grown from animal cells, giving you a real burger without the cruelty and climate change issues. But, while it’s great to see a number of Read More...