💡 Optimist's Edge: Self-driving cars are almost here
💡 In 20 years humans will not be allowed to drive cars on regular roads, because computers by then will drive so much better. This will bring massive change, and lots of new opportunities. The time to start thinking about this is NOW.
🔥 New stoves can save hundreds of thousands of lives in Africa
By switching to gas or electricity instead of wood and charcoal, many people would avoid inhaling dangerous gases when cooking.
🗳️ New study: No evidence of democratic decline
The study analyzed data from over 160 countries over a period of 30 years and found no evidence of widespread democratic decline.
🧬 13-year-old cured of "incurable" cancer
By modifying the genes in healthy T cells, doctors produced immune cells that could kill cancer cells that no other treatments could even detect.
🍟 France’s ban on single-use restaurant tableware is a fast-food “revolution”
On January first, many different fast-food chains in France, like McDonald’s, pioneered new waste-reduction laws that bans single-use restaurant tableware.
📰 Does the Washington Post really drive away the darkness?
The news media says they impact our worldview and the decisions we make. That is true. But the worldview they present is too negative. What does that say about the worldview we get and the decisions we make?
🐬 Unsustainable fishing will be banned in the Irrawaddy Dolphin's Sanctuary
One of Asia’s most threatened dolphin species exists in the Mahakam river and now Indonesia’s fisheries ministry, together with a non-profit organization, is working on plans to prohibit fishing gear that can be dangerous to the endangered species.
🍌 AI reduces food waste in stores
An AI algorithm can keep track of when the price of items that are about to expire should be reduced, and by how much. This reducing wastage and increasing profits for stores.
👶 Parental leave can protect parents against mental illness
Generous parental leave gives parents protection against depression, burnout, and anxiety.
🦆 Environmental protection for half the price
Allowing some fields to grow back and putting more resources into increasing yields on remaining cropland gives the most biodiversity for the money.
🩸 Blood tests can reduce antibiotic resistance
A new test could help doctors distinguish between viral and bacterial infections and thus reduce the prescribing of antibiotics in cases when it wouldn't help.
🌽 Hardy grass can produce larger corn yields
A resistant grass variety showed researchers how corn can be made more resistant to nutrient deficiencies, reduce the need for fertilizer, and increase yields.
🇳🇴 Norway gets fully electric public transport system
At the end of this year, travelers in Oslo, Norway can expect to circulate fossil fuel-free as the city plans the world’s first fully electric public transit system.
💡 Optimist's Edge: Why we should make the future come sooner
Do you think fast progress is dangerous? Use the seat belt test. What if the seat belt had been invented ten years earlier? If progress in vehicle safety had been faster, thousands of lives would have been saved.
🌺 Tropical forests ravaged by logging can still have thriving ecosystems
A new study shows that logged forests in Borneo have more abundant birds and mammals than pristine forests. This shows that conservationists should still try to protect these lands and habitats.
📚 Top Reads
We're honored to present these top reads from world-class writers, who contribute to Warp News because they believe in our mission of spreading fact-based optimism all over the world.
💰 Wall Street legend: “Pessimists sound smart – optimists make money”
Jim O'Shaughnessy is a legendary investor on Wall Street. He shares what he thinks is the biggest opportunity for the future and explains how the world is going through a great reshuffle.
🔋 Northvolt and the benefit of understanding the future
The story of Peter Carlsson and Northvolt teaches us two lessons: You need to understand the future to see all the possibilities, and you must be a fact-based optimist to grab them.
🧬 The Elon Code - how to understand Musk
Much has been said and written about how Elon Musk thinks and operates, but despite that, a key part has been neglected. There are two parts to The Elon Code, but only one part has gotten most of the attention. Here we dive into the second part.
💡 David Deutsch: Optimism, Pessimism and Cynicism
With so much progress in the world, how can pessimism still be widespread? It is because of cynicism, denying that “so-called-progress” is progress, argues David Deutsch, professor at Oxford University and one of the world's leading intellectuals on optimism.
💡 Kevin Kelly: The Case for Optimism
Kevin Kelly is the founder of Wired Magazine and author of several books, among them The Inevitable. For Warp News he presents his case for optimism.
🐉 Opened or closed will determine China's future success
An increasing number of people think the future belongs to China. Interestingly, that’s what well-informed pundits assumed 1,000 years ago as well. The reason that those predictions turned out wrong tells us something important about China’s prospects this time.
