advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementUntil recently, a remote corner of the Big Island of Hawaii was barren. The area was originally an ancient sandalwood forest, but hundreds of years ago, when the trees were cut down to sell the wood and cattle started grazing on the land, it became what is now essentially desert. Today, a startup is piloting a new system to bring the forest back on a 45-acre plot—and to demonstrate an approach to reforest the planet quickly enough to fight climate change.advertisementadvertisementTrees can play a key role in capturing carbon...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementUntil recently, a remote corner of the Big Island of Hawaii was barren. The area was originally an ancient sandalwood forest, but hundreds of years ago, when the trees were cut down to sell the wood and cattle started grazing on the land, it became what is now essentially desert. Today, a startup is piloting a new system to bring the forest back on a 45-acre plot—and to demonstrate an approach to reforest the planet quickly enough to fight climate change.advertisementadvertisementTrees can play a key role in capturing carbon...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementAfter five years and $8 million dollars, sustainable seafood alternative company is ready to launch its first product: plant-based shrimp.advertisementThe shrimp alternative, which the company says has the same flavor and “snap” texture of real shrimp, is made of seaweed and plant proteins derived from mung beans. New Wave Foods is also announcing that it closed an $18 million Series A funding round, led by New Enterprise Associates and Evolution VC Partners (Tyson Ventures, the VC arm of Tyson Foods, had ), which will help it...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementAfter five years and $8 million dollars, sustainable seafood alternative company is ready to launch its first product: plant-based shrimp.advertisementThe shrimp alternative, which the company says has the same flavor and “snap” texture of real shrimp, is made of seaweed and plant proteins derived from mung beans. New Wave Foods is also announcing that it closed an $18 million Series A funding round, led by New Enterprise Associates and Evolution VC Partners (Tyson Ventures, the VC arm of Tyson Foods, had ), which will help it...WW…

advertisementadvertisementBy Amy Stanton—Minutesadvertisementadvertisementadvertisement“How do you spark joy in a joyless time?”advertisementadvertisementSomeone asked me this recently. I had just joined an intimate business networking group and was sharing my current “lay of the land” which was: I’m exhausted, I’ve just recovered from COVID, I’m lonely, I miss hugs, it’s hard to find my usual spark.That’s when the question about how I might take action to do something that would bring me joy came about. And the answer that came to mind was how much I wanted to get on a plane tomorrow, fly...…advertisementadvertisementBy Amy Stanton—Minutesadvertisementadvertisementadvertisement“How do you spark joy in a joyless time?”advertisementadvertisementSomeone asked me this recently. I had just joined an intimate business networking group and was sharing my current “lay of the land” which was: I’m exhausted, I’ve just recovered from COVID, I’m lonely, I miss hugs, it’s hard to find my usual spark.That’s when the question about how I might take action to do something that would bring me joy came about. And the answer that came to mind was how much I wanted to get on a plane tomorrow, fly...WW…

advertisementadvertisementBy Tinglong DaiadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThe urgency of vaccinating nursing home residents is evident in the numbers. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of more than residents and employees of long-term care facilities in the U.S. alone, accounting for nearly 40% of all U.S. deaths linked to the disease.advertisementadvertisementEchoing that urgency, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar , “We can have every nursing home patient vaccinated in the United States by Christmas.” Yet, by Christmas, most states had barely begun.Other...…advertisementadvertisementBy Tinglong DaiadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThe urgency of vaccinating nursing home residents is evident in the numbers. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of more than residents and employees of long-term care facilities in the U.S. alone, accounting for nearly 40% of all U.S. deaths linked to the disease.advertisementadvertisementEchoing that urgency, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar , “We can have every nursing home patient vaccinated in the United States by Christmas.” Yet, by Christmas, most states had barely begun.Other...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementA new round of debate over surveillance technology broke out after the  on January 6. As some oberservers wisely , such events make it tempting to loosen restrictions on surveillance technologies such as facial recognition in the name of safety, but yielding to those temptations could lead to a rapid erosion of privacy and civil liberties. The Congress adopted after 9/11 (and the mass surveillance programs that followed) is a notable example.advertisementadvertisementCapitol security is already requiring lawmakers to , which...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementA new round of debate over surveillance technology broke out after the  on January 6. As some oberservers wisely , such events make it tempting to loosen restrictions on surveillance technologies such as facial recognition in the name of safety, but yielding to those temptations could lead to a rapid erosion of privacy and civil liberties. The Congress adopted after 9/11 (and the mass surveillance programs that followed) is a notable example.advertisementadvertisementCapitol security is already requiring lawmakers to , which...WW…

advertisementadvertisementBy Brittany KaiseradvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThis week, Mark Zuckerberg made what appeared to be a big announcement: Facebook is implementing new measures to stop foreign actors from intervening in U.S. politics. From using advanced artificial intelligence to detect fake accounts to investing in a security budget the size of “the worth of the company when they went public,” he explained how he intends to make 2020’s election safer from foreign interference than 2016.advertisementadvertisementGiven recent reporting that malicious activity from foreign...…advertisementadvertisementBy Brittany KaiseradvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThis week, Mark Zuckerberg made what appeared to be a big announcement: Facebook is implementing new measures to stop foreign actors from intervening in U.S. politics. From using advanced artificial intelligence to detect fake accounts to investing in a security budget the size of “the worth of the company when they went public,” he explained how he intends to make 2020’s election safer from foreign interference than 2016.advertisementadvertisementGiven recent reporting that malicious activity from foreign...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementOn the afternoon of January 6, as a giant crowd began to swarm the U.S. Capitol, Jason Moore, a 36-year-old digital strategist, was at home in Portland, Oregon, switching between CNN and MSNBC. “I try not to get caught up in the sensationalism of cable news,” he says, but admits he had to watch. Soon, concern became shock. “I could not believe what I was witnessing, and also knew history was being made.”advertisementadvertisementSo he got to work. Moore is a veteran editor on Wikipedia, spending hours a day creating,...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementOn the afternoon of January 6, as a giant crowd began to swarm the U.S. Capitol, Jason Moore, a 36-year-old digital strategist, was at home in Portland, Oregon, switching between CNN and MSNBC. “I try not to get caught up in the sensationalism of cable news,” he says, but admits he had to watch. Soon, concern became shock. “I could not believe what I was witnessing, and also knew history was being made.”advertisementadvertisementSo he got to work. Moore is a veteran editor on Wikipedia, spending hours a day creating,...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementAugust de los Reyes, a prominent designer who helped develop the modern Xbox interface and became a, has died. He had only left the house three times since March of last year—for a doctor’s appointment, for a license renewal, and to vote, according to his husband. He died on December 21. He was 50 years old.advertisementadvertisementThe news, first shared by his sister , through the , as de los Reyes was among the most influential designers of his generation. Through his work at tech companies and startups such as Microsoft,...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementAugust de los Reyes, a prominent designer who helped develop the modern Xbox interface and became a, has died. He had only left the house three times since March of last year—for a doctor’s appointment, for a license renewal, and to vote, according to his husband. He died on December 21. He was 50 years old.advertisementadvertisementThe news, first shared by his sister , through the , as de los Reyes was among the most influential designers of his generation. Through his work at tech companies and startups such as Microsoft,...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementOn Monday, more than 400 Google employees and contractors announced that they had formed the , a significant milestone in the tech worker movement at the company and in Silicon Valley.advertisementadvertisementPreviously, efforts to unionize the highly paid workers at Big Tech firms have struggled. But in the past few years, workers have increasingly called for change, particularly at Google. Some of the search engine giant’s employees have protested the company’s contracts with the Department of Defense and Customs and Border...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementOn Monday, more than 400 Google employees and contractors announced that they had formed the , a significant milestone in the tech worker movement at the company and in Silicon Valley.advertisementadvertisementPreviously, efforts to unionize the highly paid workers at Big Tech firms have struggled. But in the past few years, workers have increasingly called for change, particularly at Google. Some of the search engine giant’s employees have protested the company’s contracts with the Department of Defense and Customs and Border...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementFor years, I’ve resisted the lure of the sweatpant, from the velour Juicy Couture sweatsuits of the 2000s to the Lululemon joggers of the 2010s. But 2020 broke me. When the pandemic hit the U.S. and it became clear I’d be confined to my home, I stocked up on the . I’ve stayed wrapped in their cosy embrace for nine months straight.advertisementadvertisementAnd I’m far from alone. The pandemic has transformed consumers’ relationship with clothes. For one thing, we’re buying fewer garments. Fashion industry revenues are expected...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementFor years, I’ve resisted the lure of the sweatpant, from the velour Juicy Couture sweatsuits of the 2000s to the Lululemon joggers of the 2010s. But 2020 broke me. When the pandemic hit the U.S. and it became clear I’d be confined to my home, I stocked up on the . I’ve stayed wrapped in their cosy embrace for nine months straight.advertisementadvertisementAnd I’m far from alone. The pandemic has transformed consumers’ relationship with clothes. For one thing, we’re buying fewer garments. Fashion industry revenues are expected...WW…

advertisementadvertisementBy Jory MacKay—RescueTimeadvertisementadvertisementadvertisement“How do you simplify your digital life?” is quickly becoming the question of our generation. Between packed calendars, overflowing inboxes, and the constant pull of social media and news (and Netflix) it can feel like how you spend your time online isn’t really up to you.advertisementadvertisementBut what if there was a way to use your technology without feeling used by it? The answer is Digital minimalism.Coined by author and computer science professor Cal Newport in his of the same name, digital...…advertisementadvertisementBy Jory MacKay—RescueTimeadvertisementadvertisementadvertisement“How do you simplify your digital life?” is quickly becoming the question of our generation. Between packed calendars, overflowing inboxes, and the constant pull of social media and news (and Netflix) it can feel like how you spend your time online isn’t really up to you.advertisementadvertisementBut what if there was a way to use your technology without feeling used by it? The answer is Digital minimalism.Coined by author and computer science professor Cal Newport in his of the same name, digital...WW…

advertisementadvertisementBy Rohit PrasadadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThis year marks 70 years since Alan Turing introducing the concept of the Turing Test in response to the question, “Can machines think?” The test’s goal was to determine if a machine can exhibit conversational behavior indistinguishable from a human. Turing predicted that by the year 2000, an average human would have less than a 70% chance of distinguishing an AI from a human in an imitation game where who is responding—a human or an AI—is hidden from the evaluator.advertisementadvertisementWhy haven’t we as an...…advertisementadvertisementBy Rohit PrasadadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThis year marks 70 years since Alan Turing introducing the concept of the Turing Test in response to the question, “Can machines think?” The test’s goal was to determine if a machine can exhibit conversational behavior indistinguishable from a human. Turing predicted that by the year 2000, an average human would have less than a 70% chance of distinguishing an AI from a human in an imitation game where who is responding—a human or an AI—is hidden from the evaluator.advertisementadvertisementWhy haven’t we as an...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementIn the face of overlapping crises, the city of Toronto has created a fast track to house people experiencing homelessness. As the impacts of the pandemic quickly hit this community harder than others, the city accelerated its efforts to build permanent supportive housing, using modular architecture. Just a few months after the project was launched, the city will have 100 new apartments.advertisementadvertisement“We were asked to help out in April of this year, and the intent is that these things are complete and ready for...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementIn the face of overlapping crises, the city of Toronto has created a fast track to house people experiencing homelessness. As the impacts of the pandemic quickly hit this community harder than others, the city accelerated its efforts to build permanent supportive housing, using modular architecture. Just a few months after the project was launched, the city will have 100 new apartments.advertisementadvertisement“We were asked to help out in April of this year, and the intent is that these things are complete and ready for...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementEarly on, Facebook made one of the best ads of the pandemic.advertisementadvertisementAn emotive piano score plays over images of empty streets, classrooms, buses, and store shelves. People in masks, people in hospital beds, people in tears. All set to poet Kate Tempest reading her beautiful—and remarkably prescient—2019 work, “People’s Faces.”But the bleak images quickly gave way to those of people in touch online—laughing, smiling, talking, posting what they’re doing, how they’re feeling, all on Facebook. The tagline: “We’re...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementEarly on, Facebook made one of the best ads of the pandemic.advertisementadvertisementAn emotive piano score plays over images of empty streets, classrooms, buses, and store shelves. People in masks, people in hospital beds, people in tears. All set to poet Kate Tempest reading her beautiful—and remarkably prescient—2019 work, “People’s Faces.”But the bleak images quickly gave way to those of people in touch online—laughing, smiling, talking, posting what they’re doing, how they’re feeling, all on Facebook. The tagline: “We’re...WW…

advertisementadvertisementBy Herbert LuiadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementWhen the pandemic first started, some of us drew inspiration from how Shakespeare , or how Isaac Newton  while in isolation. The idea was aspirational—perhaps we, too, could make great things during the pandemic.advertisementadvertisementIt was a relief. While I didn’t aim to be Shakespeare, I did need to write a book. I’ve long dreamed of debuting my first book on the charts, buying real estate with my advance payment, and such. It was all in my head. After a sudden realization borne of desperation, I decided to...…advertisementadvertisementBy Herbert LuiadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementWhen the pandemic first started, some of us drew inspiration from how Shakespeare , or how Isaac Newton  while in isolation. The idea was aspirational—perhaps we, too, could make great things during the pandemic.advertisementadvertisementIt was a relief. While I didn’t aim to be Shakespeare, I did need to write a book. I’ve long dreamed of debuting my first book on the charts, buying real estate with my advance payment, and such. It was all in my head. After a sudden realization borne of desperation, I decided to...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThis article is part of Fast Company’s package, exploring some of the ways America has changed since the pandemic hit and what we have learned from it. advertisementadvertisementI was born and raised and graduated from college in Michigan. But I spent the past 15 years of my career living and working in New York City. New York politics, especially under Governor Andrew Cuomo, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, has always been in the national spotlight. Michigan, however, is a state most Americans probably haven’t spent...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThis article is part of Fast Company’s package, exploring some of the ways America has changed since the pandemic hit and what we have learned from it. advertisementadvertisementI was born and raised and graduated from college in Michigan. But I spent the past 15 years of my career living and working in New York City. New York politics, especially under Governor Andrew Cuomo, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, has always been in the national spotlight. Michigan, however, is a state most Americans probably haven’t spent...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementDuring an invitation-only virtual event Thursday, Joe Biden’s campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, said public pollsters may have underestimated support for Donald Trump in part because respondents said they were more educated than they really were. That may have reduced the sample of nondegreed Trump supporters and increased the need for public pollsters to use statistical weighting to estimate the impact of those voters on election results.advertisementadvertisementPublic polls consistently gave Biden a comfortable...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementDuring an invitation-only virtual event Thursday, Joe Biden’s campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, said public pollsters may have underestimated support for Donald Trump in part because respondents said they were more educated than they really were. That may have reduced the sample of nondegreed Trump supporters and increased the need for public pollsters to use statistical weighting to estimate the impact of those voters on election results.advertisementadvertisementPublic polls consistently gave Biden a comfortable...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementFacebook has taken out full-page ads in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post attacking Apple’s upcoming privacy feature in iOS that will allow users to opt out of letting apps track their activity for advertising purposes, Bloomberg . The ads position Facebook, one of the largest companies on the planet that built its wealth through the monetization of user data, as standing up for the little guy with the headline: “We’re standing up to Apple for small businesses everywhere.”advertisementThe...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementFacebook has taken out full-page ads in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post attacking Apple’s upcoming privacy feature in iOS that will allow users to opt out of letting apps track their activity for advertising purposes, Bloomberg . The ads position Facebook, one of the largest companies on the planet that built its wealth through the monetization of user data, as standing up for the little guy with the headline: “We’re standing up to Apple for small businesses everywhere.”advertisementThe...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThese intricate, colorful ornaments look good enough to eat. And luckily, you can do just that.advertisementadvertisementLos Angeles confectioner Sugar Lab has made a series of that double as beautifully delicate sweet treats—because they’re made of sugar.Kyle von Hasseln, founder and CEO of Sugar Lab, launched the company in 2012 after he and his wife, Liz, experimented with uncommon 3D printing materials, like cement and sawdust, while in architecture school. They tried the process with sugar, and quickly connected with L.A....…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThese intricate, colorful ornaments look good enough to eat. And luckily, you can do just that.advertisementadvertisementLos Angeles confectioner Sugar Lab has made a series of that double as beautifully delicate sweet treats—because they’re made of sugar.Kyle von Hasseln, founder and CEO of Sugar Lab, launched the company in 2012 after he and his wife, Liz, experimented with uncommon 3D printing materials, like cement and sawdust, while in architecture school. They tried the process with sugar, and quickly connected with L.A....WW…

advertisementadvertisementBy Ian Whiteadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisement…advertisementadvertisementBy Ian WhiteadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementWW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementIt’s a big month for IPOs: Airbnb and DoorDash are both going public this week, and online video game company Roblox and fintech Affirm are set to follow. DoorDash sold shares at $102 (above estimates), and then at $189. How is this happening in a country gripped by a coronavirus pandemic and high unemployment? In the topsy-turvy logic of the stock market, financial wins are possible. Here are a few reasons why:advertisementDoorDash is illustrative: Its third-quarter revenues were up 268% from last year, and with its order...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementIt’s a big month for IPOs: Airbnb and DoorDash are both going public this week, and online video game company Roblox and fintech Affirm are set to follow. DoorDash sold shares at $102 (above estimates), and then at $189. How is this happening in a country gripped by a coronavirus pandemic and high unemployment? In the topsy-turvy logic of the stock market, financial wins are possible. Here are a few reasons why:advertisementDoorDash is illustrative: Its third-quarter revenues were up 268% from last year, and with its order...WW…

advertisementadvertisementBy Liz O'SullivanadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementLast week, and with much , Slack announced that it would sell itself to tech behemoth Salesforce for a whopping $27.7 billion. By many measurements, this should be an incredible achievement and success story. In reality, it represents a decisive , which had previously made clear that, despite new competition from Microsoft’s largely copycat product Teams, it wanted to remain independent.advertisementadvertisementOur free market trades on the assumption that good, innovative products will prevail over less...…advertisementadvertisementBy Liz O'SullivanadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementLast week, and with much , Slack announced that it would sell itself to tech behemoth Salesforce for a whopping $27.7 billion. By many measurements, this should be an incredible achievement and success story. In reality, it represents a decisive , which had previously made clear that, despite new competition from Microsoft’s largely copycat product Teams, it wanted to remain independent.advertisementadvertisementOur free market trades on the assumption that good, innovative products will prevail over less...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementIf you buy lettuce in the winter in Denmark, it will probably be imported from Spain or Italy—or even Kenya. But a new vertical indoor farm on the outskirts of Copenhagen will soon begin producing 1,000 metric tons of greens a year locally. The Danish company running the farm, in partnership with a Taiwanese tech provider, says that similar farms covering an area the size of 20 soccer fields could fully supply the country’s entire demand for greens.advertisementThe farm is the work of YesHealth Group, a Taiwanese company that...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementIf you buy lettuce in the winter in Denmark, it will probably be imported from Spain or Italy—or even Kenya. But a new vertical indoor farm on the outskirts of Copenhagen will soon begin producing 1,000 metric tons of greens a year locally. The Danish company running the farm, in partnership with a Taiwanese tech provider, says that similar farms covering an area the size of 20 soccer fields could fully supply the country’s entire demand for greens.advertisementThe farm is the work of YesHealth Group, a Taiwanese company that...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThe most frequent reaction to last week’s news that has been “How could they?!” Broadband experts consistently say there’s no technical reason to enforce usage limits on wired connections such as cable internet.advertisementadvertisementA less frequent reaction: “How could you?” As in, how could any one person possibly burn through that much data in a month?The threshold that Comcast will start enforcing next year on subscribers in the northeast does, indeed, allow for a lot of online life before getting socked by of $10 for...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementThe most frequent reaction to last week’s news that has been “How could they?!” Broadband experts consistently say there’s no technical reason to enforce usage limits on wired connections such as cable internet.advertisementadvertisementA less frequent reaction: “How could you?” As in, how could any one person possibly burn through that much data in a month?The threshold that Comcast will start enforcing next year on subscribers in the northeast does, indeed, allow for a lot of online life before getting socked by of $10 for...WW…

advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementYouTube has banned One America News Network from posting new videos for a week after OANN posted a video promoting a phony cure for COVID-19, Axios . OANN is also barred from profiting from its content on YouTube for the next week.advertisementYouTube has faced criticism for allowing the spread of disinformation about COVID-19 and about the presidential election. And OAN is full of it: The network is obsessively loyal to Trump and has been gaining in popularity by being to Trump than the president’s traditional ally, Fox...…advertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementadvertisementYouTube has banned One America News Network from posting new videos for a week after OANN posted a video promoting a phony cure for COVID-19, Axios . OANN is also barred from profiting from its content on YouTube for the next week.advertisementYouTube has faced criticism for allowing the spread of disinformation about COVID-19 and about the presidential election. And OAN is full of it: The network is obsessively loyal to Trump and has been gaining in popularity by being to Trump than the president’s traditional ally, Fox...WW…