MacArthur Foundation

For creating a $2 million competition to merge games and real-world learning. Its annual Digital Media and Learning Competition focused in 2011 on badges–transparent, game-like, modular rewards for real-world learning–one of the most exciting concepts going in the world of education technology. The first winners will be announced in March 2012.

Video

Impact

Al Roker just got back from Greenland, and he’s horrified by what he saw there

Forests are a big part of the climate solution, but we’re not fixing the problem

London is going to use heat from the Underground to help heat its homes

Creativity

What we talk about when we talk about Lana Del Rey’s ‘Norman F___ing Rockwell’

A shocking 73% of stories on LGBTQ websites are being flagged as unsafe for brands, survey says

Let’s talk about SNL’s most important new cast member: Bowen Yang

Co.Design

This smart toilet seat monitors your heart health through your gluteus maximus

Another reason to silence your notifications: They could alter your memory

Fabric dyes are a toxic problem. These beautiful alternative colors are made out of food waste

Work Life

How the concept of a “hard stop” helped me gain more time in the day

When your body calls time-out

What to do if your boss is professionally ‘breadcrumbing’ you