Impact

The big ideas that are changing the world

What is ‘force majeure’? The legal term you’ll be hearing a lot during the coronavirus crisis

Businesses that find it impossible to fulfill contracts may be saved by clauses that void the contract due to acts of god. But “not all force majeure clauses are created equal.”

What is ‘force majeure’? The legal term you’ll be hearing a lot during the coronavirus crisis

The plastic industry is using the coronavirus to fight plastic bag bans

Bag bans that were supposed to go into effect have been halted in several states as the plastic industry plays up fears of infection from reusable bags (but doesn’t mention anything about infection from plastic ones).

The plastic industry is using the coronavirus to fight plastic bag bans

Makers are rushing to fight coronavirus with 3D printed face shields and test swabs

3D printing is having a moment as a vital source of emergency medical supply creation.

Makers are rushing to fight coronavirus with 3D printed face shields and test swabs

The airlines, due to get huge bailout, have spent more than $300M on lobbying since the last one

The airline industry, which received $5 billion in taxpayer funds and another $10 billion in loan guarantees after 9/11, is the likely recipient of $50 billion in taxpayer money and guarantees under a sweeping $2 trillion stimulus bill.

The airlines, due to get huge bailout, have spent more than $300M on lobbying since the last one

Corporate America must learn to innovate frugally to get through the coronavirus crisis

The current health crisis in America is a historic opportunity for U.S. firms to unlearn how they practiced innovation for the past 100 years and adopt a frugal innovation style that lets them react faster.

Corporate America must learn to innovate frugally to get through the coronavirus crisis

Big Oil is cheap: Should the government take it over?

The bottom is falling out of the fossil fuel industry. The best way to ensure a transition away from oil that helps the people currently employed in the sector might be having the government—not the market—manage it.

Big Oil is cheap: Should the government take it over?

People are starting to declare bankruptcy from coronavirus—but it’s often impossible to do while distancing

Upsolve, a tool that helps people declare bankruptcy, is starting to see its first cases due to the coronavirus crisis. But most states don’t let people file electronically—so they still need to go to the courthouse to get relief.

People are starting to declare bankruptcy from coronavirus—but it’s often impossible to do while distancing

How are the biggest companies treating their employees during the coronavirus crisis?

This tracker collects the policy decisions of major U.S. companies as they adapt to the pandemic.

How are the biggest companies treating their employees during the coronavirus crisis?

‘COVID-19 Clearinghouse’: Project N95 is matching hospitals with PPE suppliers

The new website aims to match healthcare institutions and municipalities with suppliers of masks and ventilators around the world.

‘COVID-19 Clearinghouse’: Project N95 is matching hospitals with PPE suppliers

Coronavirus shows how to fight disinformation about climate change

Americans have stayed vigilant against conspiracy theories about coronavirus. Experts say there are lessons for how we deal with climate change.

Coronavirus shows how to fight disinformation about climate change

To save capitalism from the COVID-19 crisis, we need to act more like socialists

Our economy was sick long before this pandemic arrived. We’ll need to build a more egalitarian society if we’re going to survive the next one.

To save capitalism from the COVID-19 crisis, we need to act more like socialists

Some CEOs are giving up their salaries to help stop coronavirus layoffs

From airlines to gyms, CEOs are forgoing money to help keep their companies afloat (but remember, many CEOs make a lot more money than just their salaries).

Some CEOs are giving up their salaries to help stop coronavirus layoffs

Big business has pledged to not always put shareholders first. The coronavirus will test that promise.

As a brutal recession takes hold and the crisis spurs new business practices, will companies really look out for their workers’ interests?

Big business has pledged to not always put shareholders first. The coronavirus will test that promise.

This ‘airlock’ for restaurants ensures that picking up your takeout order is 100% contact free

The design—open-source, so any restaurant can implement it—makes it so restaurant workers can’t get infected by customers.

This ‘airlock’ for restaurants ensures that picking up your takeout order is 100% contact free

This simple 3D-printable attachment lets you open doors hands-free

A quick fix for eliminating one particularly common location for potential viral transmission.

This simple 3D-printable attachment lets you open doors hands-free

Why haven’t they designed reusable N95 masks?

As the country faces a shortage of protective gear and healthcare workers are asked to keep masks in paper bags between shifts, why don’t we have masks that can be disinfected safely?

Why haven’t they designed reusable N95 masks?

What will happen when the coronavirus hits parts of Africa already struggling with hunger?

An aid worker in eastern Africa contemplates what the coronavirus pandemic will do to an already fragile population.

What will happen when the coronavirus hits parts of Africa already struggling with hunger?

For California’s homeless dealing with COVID-19, there’s no sheltering in place

After a week of private negotiations, the state is no closer to filling empty hotel rooms with at-risk homeless people.

For California’s homeless dealing with COVID-19, there’s no sheltering in place

This tool is helping cities find the neighborhoods most vulnerable to coronavirus

Which neighborhoods will have a hard time accessing groceries while under lockdown? Which hospitals are closest to lots of seniors? Urban Footprint is helping cities map their response plans.

This tool is helping cities find the neighborhoods most vulnerable to coronavirus

How we can redesign cities to fight future pandemics

“Buildings have to be the secret weapon in the future to combat infectious diseases.”

How we can redesign cities to fight future pandemics

Impact

How the American Refugee Committee transformed its brand—and changed its name

The U.S. betrayed the healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus

4 ways to reboot the economy that fix the climate at the same time

Creativity

Netflix’s ‘Sunderland ’til I Die’ is the antidote to the sports shutdown

Here’s how you can get 500 hours of free HBO content for quarantine bingeing

This hilarious impression of Joe Exotic from Netflix’s ‘Tiger King’ will make you roar

Co.Design

Ikea’s new digital strategy engages users where they are: At home

The 4 best masks you can make yourself

The rise of quarantine UX: How COVID-19 has upended the very idea of convenience

Work Life

8 smart tips to help you sleep better during the COVID-19 crisis

What FDR, Churchill, and Shackleton can teach us about leadership during the coronavirus crisis

I was skeptical of group life-coaching, until I tried one geared at WOC