OZY's Top 2021 Trends

www.ozy.com [OZY]() The newsletter to fuel — and thrill — your mind. Read for deep dives into the unmissable ideas and topics shaping our world. Dec 23, 2021 TODAY Bringing readers unique insights into the new and the next is in our DNA. It’s what we at OZY are. We are proud to have reported on important stories and trends, oftentimes months before the mainstream media got to them. So as a new year beckons, today’s Daily Dose delves into some of the most surprising and impactful trends to have graced our pages in recent months. From tech to a surprising global trend to, yes you guessed it, COVID-19, read on for key insights into some of the critical new developments shaping the world around us. Technology 1 - How to Find Tomorrow's Silicon Valleys Boosted in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, a host of new cities are[emerging as tech hubs](. Miami has touted its willingness to bend over backward for businesses. Austin, Denver and the Hawaiian island of Lanai are attracting transplants in increasing numbers too. Globally, commerce capitals are shifting, with China losing some of its dominance and Africa rising. The entire continent of Africa is now charging ahead: Its 54 countries include[seven of the world’s top 10 fastest-growing economies]( with Ethiopia, Uganda and Ivory Coast leading the way. This is our definitive trip through tech’s changing contours. [Read more]( 2 - How 5G Will Change the World The pandemic has accelerated the shift toward virtual medicine, which is expected to represent a $3.8 billion market by 2024. Now throw 5G into the mix. With the help of improved[augmented reality]( (AR) glasses, first responders could connect emergency patients to experts many miles away. Crucially, specialists can respond in real time because of the[low latency of 5G](. This could prove lifesaving, especially for large parts of the developing world where doctors aren’t easily available outside big cities. [Read more]( 3 - How AI is taking over the classroom Throw out the chalk and blackboards, because there’s a new player in the world of education. Ink and copybooks may have been the foundation stones for a new era of learning centuries ago, but today we stand on the precipice of another massive change in educational technology: artificial intelligence. Here, we lay out the case for how AI can ease stress, save time and put a 21st-century touch on some age-old teaching methods. So hang up your backpack and put away your pencil and scissors. Right here is where tomorrow’s classroom takes shape. [Read more]( Global stories 1 - Urban Designs of the Future Two things we know: One, our world is getting hotter. Two, our cities will be forced to play a major role in the fight to curb global warming. Home to over[1,500 skyscrapers]( — the most of any city — plus around 8,000 high-rises, Hong Kong’s 42,000 total buildings use up to 90% of the city’s electricity and emit 60% of its greenhouse gasses. But in line with the city’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, innovators are seeking solutions to reduce energy usage. One approach: turning skyscrapers into smart buildings with high-tech, centralized building management systems. [Read More]( 2 - The World’s Most Creative Politicians Sure, politics can seem like little more than a popularity contest where participants frequently promise more than they can deliver. But in a world beset by life-or-death challenges ranging from COVID-19 and climate change to sectarian violence and hunger, some leaders are trying something different. Here, we look at the innovative steps political leaders around the world are taking to try to fundamentally reset the destinies of their nations — from a Caribbean prime minister who’s building a republic out of a former colony to a Kosovar mayor bridging ethnic tensions with language and culture. You might not agree with everything they’re trying. And it’s likely not all of these initiatives will succeed. But the world needs bold, new ideas, and these officials are leading the way. [Read more]( 3 - The Battle for the Ocean Floor Only[20% of Earth’s ocean floor]( has been mapped. Vast stretches of our seas are less understood than the surfaces of Mars and Venus. Yet that great unknown is now emerging as an untouched economic frontier. From mining firms to Big Tech, industries are queueing up to explore and exploit the deep seas. Several countries are now realizing how crucial oceanic internet cables are.[Russian submarines]( have been known to monitor or even tap undersea cables. And the[European Union]( wants to expand its offering of internet cables to promote its own technological sovereignty. In the meantime, international institutions are trying to keep order. [Read more]( Culture and Sports 1 - New Trends in HBCU Sports The recent groundswell of anti-racist activism that’s swept across America over the past 20 months is helping reshape the world of college sports. Embracing what observers call heightened “racial consciousness,” elite Black athletes are today being drawn to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It’s a trend that could reshape the college sports universe. “I describe this often in class as the ‘Trayvon Martin generation,’” says Derrick White, an African American studies professor at the University of Kentucky and the author of Blood, Sweat, and Tears about the history of Black college football. [Read More]( 2 - How Gambling Took Over America Online betting has grown by 10% per year since 2015, and is only[expected to accelerate]( as new and longtime gamblers alike find more incentives to lean in. I mean, what else do you do when you’re locked in with nowhere to go and money burning a hole in your pocket? A host of apps are designated as paid fantasy sports, which allows them to[operate in many states]( where sports betting has yet to be legalized. Additionally, in most jurisdictions, customers over the age of 18 are eligible to play paid fantasy sports, whereas the legal minimum age for sports betting is 21 in all but six states. The problem? More than any other age demographic, adults in their 20s seem to approach gambling with reckless disregard. [Read more]( 3 - The Great Race For a Vaccine COVID-19 has claimed more than 5.3 million lives and infected 270 million people. Never before had humankind waited in such anticipation for a medical shield against a disease. In mid-August last year, more people around the world searched for[“vaccine” on Google]( than they did for “wine.” That’s saying something. Our coverage introduces you to the[world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines](, to the idea of “[live attenuated vaccines](”: ones that carry a living, reproducing virus that rapidly builds antibodies, protecting you when you’re actually faced with the coronavirus, and so much more. [Read more]( 4 - New Addictions That Won’t Kill You Way back in 2019, researchers found that people who worked from home were more[likely to be depressed](. Then 2020 hit, and pretty much anyone who could work remotely was doing exactly just that. What can help? Taking a[break from social media](, learning chess and virtual events that can make you[feel more connected]( to a larger purpose have all helped immeasurably. But getting outside over the past 21 months has been our number one source of relief. That’s where XC skiing, skateboarding and guided running meditations, known as[mindful running]( have taken off. [Read More]( ABOUT OZY OZY is a diverse, global and forward-looking media and entertainment company focused on “the New and the Next.” OZY creates space for fresh perspectives and offers new takes on everything from news and culture to technology, business, learning and entertainment. [www.ozy.com]( / #OZY Welcome to the New + the Next! [OZY]() [TV]( | [PODCASTS]( | [NEWS]( | [FESTIVALS]( A Modern Media Company OZY Media, 800 West El Camino Mountain View, California 94040 This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Read Online](