California wildfires where did it start

When SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket in early February, it was one of the best public relations events in the recent history of space exploration–and not just because Elon Musk’s company put a Tesla into the heavens. advertisement advertisement Millions of people watched the launch and saw SpaceX try to bring all three rockets back to Earth, ultimately crashing one just a few meters away from its at-sea droneship landing pad. What brought everyone together was the exciting promise of a private space company showcasing its massive rockets–and the potential promise of carrying massive payloads into the skies at a radically cheap price. Never mind that NASA appears to have lost some interest in the Falcon Heavy; the public is on board. You would think that eventually, the space agency would have to follow. The private space race has been in full throttle for several years now, with some of Earth’s richest people pushing many of their chips into … [Read more...] about How Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos Are Trying To Upend Space Exploration

Students started the fossil fuel divestment movement on a handful of college campuses in 2011. Four years later, the cause–which asks investors to sell holdings in the industry directly causing climate change–has grown to include cities, foundations, insurance companies, pension funds, and churches that hold a combined $2.6 trillion in assets. That’s a small but not meaningless percentage of the world’s estimated $241 trillion in global wealth that refuses to touch dirty-energy stocks. advertisement advertisement At an event in New York City on September 22, investors, climate experts, and activists including actor Leonardo DiCaprio highlighted this rapid momentum. DiCaprio and his foundation committed to joining more than 436 institutions and more than 2,000 individuals in 43 countries that have so far made commitments. The $2.6 trillion in assets, totaled in a report by Arabella Advisors, is an impressive 50-fold increase from the $52 billion in … [Read more...] about Watch Out, Coal Companies: The Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement Is Growing Incredibly Fast

In true unicorn fashion, ride-hailing giant Uber continues to lose money, all while putting a positive spin on it. The company’s Q3 earnings report shows that it lost $1.16 billion for the quarter—that’s up from $986 million this time last year, but still better than expected. advertisement advertisement Part of what’s straining Uber is its effort to keep growing into new segments, including food delivery, where both growth and losses have been substantial. Uber also reorganized the company structure into five business segments, including Rides, Eats, and Freight, making it easier to see how each part of the business is doing. Here are six interesting things we learned from the report and earnings call with CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: 1) The ride-share business is improving. Uber reported that the gross take for ride sharing for the quarter was up 20% to $12.55 billion, compared to the $12.51 billion expected by Wall Street. 2) Food is the next frontier. … [Read more...] about Uber is on track to be profitable by 2021, says CEO Dara Khosrowshahi

“We believe in universal access,” says Bernard J. Tyson, CEO of Kaiser Permanente, on stage at the 2019 Fast Company Innovation Festival. advertisement advertisement Tyson has said that he does not think that “Medicare for All” is the right choice for right now in the United States. The reason, he says, is because the policy is focused on getting all Americans affordable insurance coverage rather than ensuring that everyone is getting affordable care, which he does not believe is the same thing. Though approximately 30 million Americans are not insured, according to 2018 census bureau figures, the overwhelming majority are. “We should be focused on the care, not the coverage, and we should deal with the policy deficiencies where we’re not covering,” he says. Kaiser Permanente is both an insurer and a network of medical centers. It takes a fixed fee in exchange for providing a patient’s entire care, rather than a fee … [Read more...] about Bernard J. Tyson says Medicare for All is not the right answer to the healthcare crisis

It’s just before 9 a.m. on an overcast February morning. About 60 fifth graders at a Harlem charter school have just filed into a multipurpose room to hear architect Phil Freelon talk about his career-defining work on the National Museum of African American History and Culture, or NMAAHC, in Washington, D.C., the universally celebrated newest addition to the Smithsonian Institution. But before he gets to his lesson about the design—a brilliant, bronze-hued building that alights the Mall like a shining crown—he warms up the crowd by letting them in on a secret: He once played drums in a band with his brother, Gregory Freelon, a teacher at the school. The room’s energy perks up as students whisper; Phil has instantly connected to each of them. Now it’s time for the meatier part of his talk. advertisement advertisement Eager hands shoot into the air. “Art is a subject of creativity,” a boy says. “It’s expressing … [Read more...] about America’s Humanitarian Architect