Six Solutions For A Better Tomorrow

According to the United Nations, 1.1 billion women still lack access to family planning. Not only does this lead to unwanted pregnancies and abortions  – many illegal and even deadly  – but is an erosion of women's rights and a toxic threat to our social progress.

With 922 million women worldwide currently using contraceptives, Danish company Cirqle Biomedical answered the call for a new solution.

This tiny capsule, known as OUI, builds on our bodies’ natural pregnancy prevention. The technology is inspired by pioneering mucus engineering research at MIT and The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

During menstrual cycles, cervical mucus naturally becomes impenetrable for sperm. But during ovulation, it becomes more watery, thereby allowing sperm cells to pass. When applied, OUI reverts the cervical mucus back to its impenetrable state.

Fast and sustainable reforestation solutions are desperately needed – that’s where Flash Forest comes in. The Canadian based company uses drones, aerial mapping software and biological seed-pod technology with the goal to plant 100,000 seed pods per day. 

That’s why Flash Forest is on an urgent run to reforest, rebuild and tip the scale on the climate crisis. Flash Forest’s mission is to plant over 1 billion trees by 2028, The team is in full swing with current tests and planting trials for next year. 

“We started Flash Forest with one clear goal: healing our planet’s lungs. Until that job is done well, no other job matters.”

Their goal is to redefine the construction industry, which contributes to 23% of air pollution, 50% of climatic change, 40% of drinking water pollution, and 50% of landfill wastes.

BIOHM leans on mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, and local waste products as their bricks and mortar. Today, they make insulation – the world's first accredited mycelium insulation, furniture, acoustic panels and many other bespoke architectural elements.

BIOHM is now in the process of establishing the world's first mycelium insulation biomanufacturing facility, Biomill Watchet, in collaboration with a community-based social enterprise. All profits from the Biomill will be shared with the local community.

"We're really using this technology as a catalyst for regeneration; environmental, economical and social," says Bondar.

Fake or altered media is an accepted norm of our digital lives today, but a little harmless fun has turned into a heedless, uncontrollable conundrum. Spreading misinformation, enabling fraud and eroded public trust in digital media as a whole.

Truepic uses groundbreaking technology to authenticate images and videos as they’re captured. Users upload their material to the Truepic platform that then verifies its origins and watermarks it with a timestamp, geocode and other metadata. 

Today, it doesn't take a lot of creativity to imagine all of the nightmare scenarios possible with manipulated media. From dating websites where optimised selfies and ‘cat-fishing’ is rife to falsified media that has the power to swing elections.

Hanna also hopes this will help just causes and give social media platforms the means to ensure authentic media is prioritised by algorithms.

AI has been a force for change in recent years. From SIRI to self-driving cars, it’s opened up doors that many of us could’ve never imagined. But while some AI tools show great promise, they can also harm vulnerable and marginalised people, and even threaten civil rights.

The Coded Bias film, featuring AJL’s inspiring beginnings, highlights the stories of people who’ve been impacted by harmful AI applications, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020 and is now streaming internationally on Netflix.

"If you need a space rocket, call SpaceX. If you need a house on the Moon, call us," says Sebastian Aristotelis, one of the lead architects. 

With increasing progress in rocket design, cost reductions and growing public interest, some are speculating space tourism to take off as early as 2024.

"[Humans] are originally from Africa, but now we inhabit the most remote areas of the Earth. Discovery is printed in our DNA. Humans will inevitably seek out other planets.”

The team built and tested a prototype that the lead architects tested themselves for 61 days on a 100-day expedition in the Arctic on the most realistic simulated Moon mission ever conducted on Earth.