Entries in Innovation Hub by Kara Miller and Genevieve Gilson
Lavishing money on cool projects isn’t just for billionaires - or millionaires - any more. We look at how the Awesome Foundation has grown so quickly by offering “micro-genius grants for flashes of micro-brilliance.” Read More...
Origami may soon start saving lives. That’s the hope of Stanford professor Manu Prakash, who created the Foldscope - a foldable paper microscope - to help healthcare workers quickly diagnose diseases like malaria. Read More...
How do your nerd credentials stack up this week?
1. Don’t split your infinitives around Weird Al. He may have a hugely successful new album and lengthy music career, but he’s a grammar geek at heart.
2. There is a huge tech bubble. But it isn't where you think it is. Renowned investor Roger McNamee says Silicon Valley is inundated with start-ups, many of which won't be able to survive to maturity.
3. Put down that Sudoku and start running. Research shows that physical exercise could be more important in making you smarter than brain teasers.
We’ve long debated whether intelligence is innate or acquired. Author Annie Murphy Paul talks about the latest scientific research - and looks at simple techniques that may be able to enhance our brains. Read More...
Here's what you need to know about innovation this week:
1. Lego almost failed when they lost faith in plastic blocks. But success actually hinged on enhancing their core product with a powerful narrative.
2. Flashcards and multiplication tables aren't the way to inspire love for science, technology, engineering and math. Instead, hands-on experiments teach kids the skills they need to excel.
3. Technology is tipping the scales for some new, superpower cities. But there are lessons to be learned from some great cities of the past.
If today's elementary school kids are going to be the engineers of tomorrow, they need better building blocks. Read More...
New superpower cities may be built on the foundations of the past, but they're creating an entirely new future, according to Daniel Brook, author of "A History of Future Cities." Read More...
Ever wonder what's behind those brightly-colored, plastic bricks from your childhood? By being unconventional, Lego has built a blockbuster global brand. Read More...
Venture into President Obama's "cave," where techies helped shape the 2012 election. We talk with Jonathan Alter, author of "The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies," about how tech is quietly revolutionizing our politics. Read More...
Forget the bread bowl. Someday your soup may be contained in edible, grape-like packaging. Dr. David Edwards, creator and Harvard professor, is taking his cue from fruits with edible skins and looking to upend the food industry. Read More...
