Fast Company posts tagged: World Changing Ideas | Fast Company

World Changing Ideas

New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine--even an entirely new economic system.

Beneficial State Bank is trying to build a better banking industry

The big banks, says Beneficial State Bank founder Kat Taylor, should “exit the banking industry and become the hedge funds that they actually are.”

Beneficial State Bank is trying to build a better banking industry

Chilean businesses are committing to lower the CEO-worker salary gap as inequality protests rage

Desafío 10x is a voluntary commitment to make sure no CEO at a company makes more than 10 times the salary of the lowest paid worker.

Chilean businesses are committing to lower the CEO-worker salary gap as inequality protests rage

These modular units are designed to make homeless shelters a little more livable

Many people living on the streets avoid shelters because of how unpleasant and undignified the conditions are. A new design would give people more privacy and a space of their own while they wait to find permanent housing.

These modular units are designed to make homeless shelters a little more livable

This Google Ventures-backed indoor farming startup just opened its biggest farm yet

The Baltimore farm is 3.5 times as large as Bowery’s formerly largest farm—and is the latest attempt to make indoor farming work as a way to disrupt the agricultural system.

This Google Ventures-backed indoor farming startup just opened its biggest farm yet

11,000 scientists want you to know we are in a climate emergency

And they have a list of six things to do to fix it.

11,000 scientists want you to know we are in a climate emergency

How Memphis transformed its parks named for Confederate generals into inclusive spaces

After taking down statues of Confederate president Jefferson Davis and KKK leader Nathan Bedford Forrest, the city redesigned the parks into spaces where people could create a stronger community.

How Memphis transformed its parks named for Confederate generals into inclusive spaces

How old are you really? Elysium Health will tell you—for $500

The company—which also sells supplements it claims keeps you young—is now offering a test that examines your DNA to tell you how old your “epigenome” says you are. But is it correct? And what are you supposed to do with that information?

How old are you really? Elysium Health will tell you—for $500

It’s too late for a carbon tax—it’s time for a world war against climate change

“The reality is that we have zero years and we have to change all of our infrastructure.”

It’s too late for a carbon tax—it’s time for a world war against climate change

There’s huge potential energy savings hiding in our air conditioners

Bluon, with investment from Leonardo DiCaprio, can replace the usual refrigerants in AC units with something much better.

There’s huge potential energy savings hiding in our air conditioners

MTV’s revolutionary African show ‘Shuga’ has made a real difference in the fight against HIV

The World Bank did a study to see how the 10-year-long show about real sex and life issues affected young viewers. It found that those who watched the show were twice as likely to get tested for HIV.

MTV’s revolutionary African show ‘Shuga’ has made a real difference in the fight against HIV

Can music festivals go from generators of garbage to sustainable innovators?

As small, temporary, purpose-built communities, music festivals have a chance to experiment with new ways to get people to live sustainably. Three are trying to clean up the usually dirty festival business.

Can music festivals go from generators of garbage to sustainable innovators?

How Eileen Fisher thinks about sustainable consumption

“We actually think maybe we don’t have to sell so many clothes.”

How Eileen Fisher thinks about sustainable consumption

This jacket’s threads were inspired by spider silk and ‘brewed’ in a factory

The North Face Japan’s newest jacket isn’t made from oil-based nylon.

This jacket’s threads were inspired by spider silk and ‘brewed’ in a factory

This international hotel’s attempt to move to sustainable fish is a lesson in the hard path to sustainability

The hotel group Iberostar has so far banned 34 species of sea creatures from its menus in the Dominican Republic as part of an effort to support sustainable fishing practices and local food suppliers.

This international hotel’s attempt to move to sustainable fish is a lesson in the hard path to sustainability

Long-distance electric buses are coming to the U.S.

Could a bus replace short-haul flights or taking your personal car? FlixBus hopes a bus’s amenities (and clean power) can change the transportation equation.

Long-distance electric buses are coming to the U.S.

Don’t build new renewable energy in California. Build it in the upper Midwest first

Where will renewables have the largest effect—both in terms of energy and in terms of emissions reductions? Not where we’re building them.

Don’t build new renewable energy in California. Build it in the upper Midwest first

These maps show the cities with the most solar in the U.S.

Within each of the 10 metro areas with the most solar panels, there are big differences in where people have started embracing solar.

These maps show the cities with the most solar in the U.S.

This sponge-like nanomaterial uses HVAC systems to create water from thin air

Using the material in a large HVAC system on a commercial building could produce thousands of gallons of water an hour.

This sponge-like nanomaterial uses HVAC systems to create water from thin air

85% of cities are feeling climate change—but nearly half aren’t dealing with it

Flooding and extreme heat are coming to nearly every city (especially their vulnerable populations). But a new report finds that few cities are ready for what’s coming.

85% of cities are feeling climate change—but nearly half aren’t dealing with it

This 13-year-old invented a better version of the hyperloop

Caroline Crouchley’s design (a finalist at the 2019 3M Young Scientist Challenge) builds on Elon Musk’s idea but uses it to move existing trains—not move just a few people in a pod.

This 13-year-old invented a better version of the hyperloop

Impact

Sustainable living lessons from Antarctica’s first zero-emission research station

The boldest Democratic climate plan gets just a C+ on this report card

Can Deval Patrick convince voters his work at Bain Capital was a force for good?

Creativity

In the new streaming universe, everything is a ‘hit’ even if no one you know has seen it

‘The Daily Show’ turns the impeachment hearing into porn, since some say it’s missing ‘pizzazz’

This short film about a school shooting shouldn’t feel this familiar

Co.Design

The ultimate backpack for creatives has a spot for your X-Acto, camera, and more

Proof that type design is all about tricking people’s brains

Every social media company should copy Pinterest’s newest feature

Work Life

Everyone’s obsessed with brand purpose. Too bad no one understands it

Can everyone bounce back from adversity?

How I’ve learned to have a thicker skin