Impact

The big ideas that are changing the world

People are more likely to trust—and buy—purpose-driven brands

A study finds that when comparing two brands, purpose can make a big difference.

People are more likely to trust—and buy—purpose-driven brands

This new tree corps will hire people to plant trees in low-income neighborhoods

Trees improve a neighborhood’s health, temperature, and resiliency. But they’re not equally distributed. This new initiative wants to change that.

This new tree corps will hire people to plant trees in low-income neighborhoods

These bike parking pods are designed to sit in a parking space

Oonee—which keeps bikes safe from theft in a secured box—wants to use the curbside streets for more than just storing cars.

These bike parking pods are designed to sit in a parking space

Bill Gates: These 3 lessons from COVID-19 can help us fight climate change

In this excerpt from his new book, the philanthropist explains how the struggle against the pandemic can help guide us as we work to end global warming.

Bill Gates: These 3 lessons from COVID-19 can help us fight climate change

Fast food workers are striking for $15 an hour in 15 cities

Across the country, workers are demanding a raise, as a $15 minimum wage makes its way through Congress.

Fast food workers are striking for $15 an hour in 15 cities

The $4 trillion economic cost of not vaccinating the entire world

No economy is an island.

The $4 trillion economic cost of not vaccinating the entire world

How Facebook can make up for disinformation and help get everyone vaccinated for COVID-19

Ads targeted to zip codes where vaccine uptake is low could have positive results. Facebook should give them away to public health departments.

How Facebook can make up for disinformation and help get everyone vaccinated for COVID-19

Guaranteed income is having a moment. The last time it did, it was because of Martin Luther King Jr.

Toward the end of his life, King turned his attention to eradicating poverty—and argued for a guaranteed income.

Guaranteed income is having a moment. The last time it did, it was because of Martin Luther King Jr.

This cream cheese doesn’t have any milk—just lots of ‘Fusarium strain flavolapis’

Fungi protein is starting to enter the plant-based meat market.

This cream cheese doesn’t have any milk—just lots of ‘Fusarium strain flavolapis’

These ‘Shamecards’ are frightening reminders of the legacies of mass shootings

Parents of Parkland shooting victim Joaquin Oliver created the art projects as a call to action for gun reform.

These ‘Shamecards’ are frightening reminders of the legacies of mass shootings

Coke’s newest bottle is made from paper

The company is testing alternatives to replace the millions of tons of plastic it uses every year.

Coke’s newest bottle is made from paper

There’s a new kind of pollution to be worried about: nanomaterials

Carbon nanotubes and other microscopic particles are increasingly part of consumer goods. They’re also being found in organisms up and down the food chain.

There’s a new kind of pollution to be worried about: nanomaterials

This biotech startup is cleaning up laundry detergent

Dirty Labs wants to solve the problem of water-polluting chemicals common in laundry detergents.

This biotech startup is cleaning up laundry detergent

This house is made from coffee

Coffee husks are usually discarded when coffee is roasted. Now they’re being turned into building materials.

This house is made from coffee

If you don’t want to double mask, here’s how to make surgical masks more effective

“Knotting and tucking” or using a mask-fitter results in big improvements to the effectiveness of existing masks.

If you don’t want to double mask, here’s how to make surgical masks more effective

The lessons we learned serving unhoused people during the pandemic are key for any social enterprise

LavaMaeX rapidly revamped services in response to street conditions, learning lessons to help anyone innovate through a crisis.

The lessons we learned serving unhoused people during the pandemic are key for any social enterprise

This startup turns hills into giant batteries

You don’t need a lot of lithium when you have gravity.

This startup turns hills into giant batteries

Can Biden save public transit from the pandemic?

Ridership—and revenue—are cratering. Will there be anything left once we’re vaccinated? The Biden administration and new Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will have to act fast to give federal help so states and cities can turn things around.

Can Biden save public transit from the pandemic?

These 3 bold projects want to help workers come back from the pandemic stronger

The latest recipients of grants from The Workers Lab’s Innovation Fund each get $150,000 to create new models in sectors such as childcare and logistics.

These 3 bold projects want to help workers come back from the pandemic stronger

America’s ‘deep state’ is not nearly deep enough

Want a government that works? We need to radically redesign the executive branch—and stop confusing meritocracy with technocracy.

America’s ‘deep state’ is not nearly deep enough

Impact

Scaling up employee ownership is key to an equitable economic recovery

How FedEx plans to become carbon neutral by 2040

This map shows every one of the world’s remaining coal power plants

News

NYSE Buzz: What to know about the new ETF that tracks hot stocks on social media

Jack Dorsey’s Square is buying a majority stake in Jay-Z’s Tidal

Here’s everything you can find on Paramount Plus

Co.Design

Nike Vaporfly 4% was only the beginning. A ‘super shoe’ revolution is afoot

Forget Giphy. This new app creates movie montages to accompany your texts

Design elicits powerful emotions. This new book explores why

Work Life

Had it with email? Give personal office hours a try

5 ways to check on your team’s well-being without being invasive

How to make your virtual meetings more fair to introverts