Society

Ancient technology that was centuries ahead of its time

These forward-thinking inventions are often called “ahead of their time.” They are reflections of the ingenuity of their civilizations.

Tim Brinkhof

Building Community

More Americans than ever have no friends. Here are 5 steps to make more friends.

The last decade has seen a steep drop in adult friendships and a worrying increase in loneliness. Is this the cost of our modern life?

Elizabeth Gilbert

Psychology

The secrets of cooperation

Most people care what others think of them. In many situations, that can be leveraged for the common good — cooperation.

Bob Holmes | Knowable Magazine

Fixing Justice

Minnesota stops separating newborns and incarcerated mothers

The Healthy Start Act makes Minnesota the first state to stop the practice of separating incarcerated mothers from their newborns soon after delivery.

Kristin Houser

Fixing Justice

Controversial police killings are being recreated in VR

Virtual reality simulations of controversial police killings of Black Americans are being included in a police training program.

Kristin Houser

Can VR help formerly incarcerated individuals return to the job force?

Goodwill and Accenture have teamed up to create “Project Overcome,” a VR experience that simulates the job-seeking process in hopes of curtailing recidivism.

Jesse Damiani

These movers fight food insecurity one home at a time

The nonprofit Move for Hunger works with local moving companies to collect and donate food people would normally throw away during a move.

Kristin Houser

Transportation

The future of cities starts with transportation equity

4:47

In partnership with Remix

People in low-income areas have a harder time accessing jobs, schools, and health care. How can we make public transit more equitable?

Jack Berning

Social Entrepreneurs

Austin is facing food insecurity. This student is on a mission to solve that.

In partnership with Ford

A med student thinks the key to reducing food insecurity is through transportation. He launched Good Apple, a healthy food delivery service for families in need.

Teresa Carey

Homelessness

A tiny house village for the homeless is coming to Minnesota

This tiny house village for homeless people is designed to overcome traditional shelters' limitations and help residents stay safe during the pandemic.

Kristin Houser

Series| Catalysts

How to keep kids out of the foster care system

7:28

In partnership with Stand Together

The foster care system has become a catch-all for all forms of family crises, but what if there was a resource parents could access for support before government intervention even became necessary?

Doug Dais

Series| Catalysts

The missing data in criminal justice reform

4:45

In partnership with Stand Together

This Y Combinator startup is building new, criminal justice technology solutions to sustainably reduce our prison populations.

Doug Dais

Homelessness

California city ends its chronic homelessness

Bakersfield, California, has effectively ended its chronic homelessness through an initiative focused on the collection of real-time data.

Kristin Houser

Sections

Video

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.