#151 - AlphaGenome, AI Forensics, and Solar Balconies!
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In the News
🧬 AlphaGenome is helping unlock secrets of how certain diseases correspond with specific genes.
💉 The FDA just approved a one-shot HIV preventative vaccine that is effective for 6 months long.
🍄 Yet another study demonstrating the efficacy of psilocybin in treating depression; this time in patients with cancer.
🤧 Deaths from pneumonia have plummeted by 86% since 2000 in Nepal thanks to a monumental vaccination campaign, especially among children.
🌅 With the addition Pakistan, last week marks the 20th addition to the “25% club,” which is a list of countries generating a quarter of their electricity from solar alone.
⚡️ In other energy news, the EU is slated to propose a ban on all imported Russian fossil gas by 2026.
Hey' y’all! Aaron here. Last weekend, I recorded a lil audio clip for an art project of some good news that you may not have heard of over the last month, and I wanted to share it with you! So much of what we do at Impact Labs is about encouraging people to have hope despite all the terrible things that are happening in our world. I have faith that we can (and, in fact, must) make a better world through our concerted, consistent effort, and I’m hoping that this audio clip will serve as a reminder that change is possible.
Opportunities
“The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF) is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence and data science solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. PJMF works in partnership with public, private, and social institutions to drive progress on our most pressing challenges, including digital health, climate change, broad digital access, and data maturity in the social sector.” They’re currently looking for a full stack SWE.
“CommunityShare ignites civic engagement and a passion for learning by activating the wisdom and lived experiences of educators, students, and community members. We collaborate with communities to co-create real-world learning experiences that build relationships, shared understanding, and collective agency.” They’re seeking an interface designer and a web developer to join their team.
“AI Forensics is a non-profit organization defending digital rights through algorithmic investigations. Our team has been pioneering algorithmic investigations techniques for more than 5 years, holding platforms accountable to their users and to the law. Our investigations have received coverage on major media outlets, like the Washington Post or the Guardian. Our reports have been cited by the United Nations, the US and French Senate. We are also informing tech regulation at the European Union level.” They’re hoping to hire a flexible freelancer who can join their remote team.
“New Energy Nexus is a global nonprofit, providing funding, accelerators, training, and networks to drive clean energy innovation, deployment, and adoption.” They have a number of program associate roles open for their various team locations.
“Kiva is a global nonprofit, founded in 2005, with a mission to expand financial access and help underserved communities thrive. Kiva unlocks capital for borrowers through crowdfunded loans supported by individuals around the world. Lenders on Kiva can start with as little as $25 to support causes that matter most to them, whether that’s gender equity and support for women, refugees, climate change, small businesses, agriculture, and more. Since our founding, over two million people have invested over $2 billion in real dreams and real opportunity, spanning more than 100 countries and over 5 million borrowers.” They’re hiring across multiple teams and at varying levels of experience.
What We’re Watching
A deep dive into the wild world of out-of-this-world internet providers.
Solar farms on city balconies in Germany - we love to see it.
Battery recycling for AI data centers = hugely profitable business.
Yet another story on how content moderators are doing the dirty work of keeping the internet clean… and they don’t like it.
What does #1 NYT bestseller actually mean?
Quotes We Love
"Love is a better teacher than duty."
- Albert Einstein
That’s all for now! See you in your inbox in another two weeks! ❤️