Ever Widening Circles: It's Still An Amazing World

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  • Innovation
      • Technology
          • Image: Lego knight fighting off a shoeThe Case For Making Useless ThingsHow can we bring joy and humility back into the work we do? Why not have more fun! Simone Giertz is the queen of terrible robots, and she makes a great case for why we should embrace making "useless things".
          • Image: Girl Playing and Smiling in the Water at Morgan's Inspiration IslandVisit the Water Park of an Inspired Future!Morgan's Inspiration Island is the world's first ultra-accessible water park, and this remarkable place not only connects kids with the power of fun but is spurring on meaningful innovation!
          • bike pathA More Creative Future with Smog Vacuums and Glowing SidewalksWhat if every construction project needed to have both a practical outcome and a component past that; something that expands possibility? Here's a guided tour of what that world might look like!
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      • Education
          • Image: two blonde female barbies, one adult and one child, sitting down next to an old desktop computer. The older barbie appears to be explaining the machine to her.The Code for a Better WorldGirls Who Code was started by Reshma Saujani in 2012 with a goal to close the gender gap we find in the tech world, but why is this gap there in the first place?
          • Image: Lightning strikes an airplane and a ground vehicleLightning: Are We Really Safe in Airplanes and Cars?Ever wonder if you are actually safe in an airplane or a car during a lightning storm? Turns out the answer is as fascinating as the science, and it can be made quite fun!
          • Image: 6 Ancient Giza Pyramids of EgyptAre You Happily Using Math Every Day Without Realizing It?By studying mathematics and science, humans have the ability to answer questions that would have otherwise been deemed "unanswerable". So, let's discover how math sneaks its way into our lives inside of our lives every day.
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      • Business
          • Image: A gallery of Judith Scotts workCreative Growth: Where Artists with Disabilities ThriveCreative Growth is a space where artists can hone their crafts, express themselves, and share their work with the public. This is one nonprofit making us rethink where our community focus actually is.
          • Image: Colorful varieties of heirloom corn laid out next to each otherIs Tradition the Secret Ingredient to Great Food?If you want to have a really, really good tortilla, you're going to need the best corn. Masienda is a company not only supporting Mexico's small heirloom corn farmers but bringing the practices that enhance the nutritional powers of the grain back into the market.
          • bike pathA More Creative Future with Smog Vacuums and Glowing SidewalksWhat if every construction project needed to have both a practical outcome and a component past that; something that expands possibility? Here's a guided tour of what that world might look like!
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      • Life Hacks
          • Image: A beautiful landscape of green wheat fields on one side and brown wheat fields on the otherJanine Shepherd: The Flight of an Unstoppable SpiritA world of possibilities is waiting for us if we lighten our load! Here is an amazing person to be our guide.
          • Image: two blonde female barbies, one adult and one child, sitting down next to an old desktop computer. The older barbie appears to be explaining the machine to her.The Code for a Better WorldGirls Who Code was started by Reshma Saujani in 2012 with a goal to close the gender gap we find in the tech world, but why is this gap there in the first place?
          • Image: Person in donkey mask stands out in crowd of cadets in uniformBut Why Do We Feel So Awkward?There may be some benefits to our awkward interactions with each other! Having some anxiety just thinking about it? Well, we may have a fix for that as well.
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  • Thought Leaders
      • TED Talks
          • Image: Painting from Zaria Forman of the Getz Ice Shelf in Antarctica viewed from aboveWhen Art and Science IntersectThis isn't a photograph of the Getz Ice Shelf, its a drawing! Zaria Forman creates large-scale depictions of glaciers, and NASA's Operation IceBridge invited her on a trip to get even closer to them. Heres that story and the gorgeous creations that came from it!
          • Image: Icelandic horse in front of a barren landscapeIceland’s Comeback StoryIceland may be well known for its barren and sweeping landscapes, but the island didn't always look like that. Here's how scientists are using the latest science to regrow Iceland's long-lost forests.
          • Image: A beautiful landscape of green wheat fields on one side and brown wheat fields on the otherJanine Shepherd: The Flight of an Unstoppable SpiritA world of possibilities is waiting for us if we lighten our load! Here is an amazing person to be our guide.
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      • Education Enrichment
          • Image: Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture with wings spreadIt’s Raining Bones! (And That’s a Good Thing!)When it comes to animals doing good in the world, vultures may not instantly come to mind. But bearded vultures are some of nature's most underappreciated creatures!
          • Image: Man on boat over coral reefWhy Are Coral Stressed About Current Events?We know that coral is beautiful and that it's in danger, but what exactly is coral? Learning about these complex creatures helps us understand how to work to save and preserve them for the next generations!
          • Image: Icelandic horse in front of a barren landscapeIceland’s Comeback StoryIceland may be well known for its barren and sweeping landscapes, but the island didn't always look like that. Here's how scientists are using the latest science to regrow Iceland's long-lost forests.
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      • Happiness & Hope
          • Image: A beautiful landscape of green wheat fields on one side and brown wheat fields on the otherJanine Shepherd: The Flight of an Unstoppable SpiritA world of possibilities is waiting for us if we lighten our load! Here is an amazing person to be our guide.
          • Image: Hussein Smko performing outsideWhen Dance Creates OpportunitiesHussein Smko grew up in war-torn Iraq, and he's turned his experience into an opportunity. Through his performance, this dancer is not only telling his story, but making it possible for others to share theirs.
          • Image: Group of school children wearing the shoe that growsThe Shoe that Grows Keeps Growing!What if more businesses were built to have a positive impact on the world? Kenton Lee, the founder of The Shoe that Grows, is working to make an even greater positive impact on the globe with the launch of GroFive, and Expandles!
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      • Humor
          • Image: Lego knight fighting off a shoeThe Case For Making Useless ThingsHow can we bring joy and humility back into the work we do? Why not have more fun! Simone Giertz is the queen of terrible robots, and she makes a great case for why we should embrace making "useless things".
          • Image: Two children eating ice cream and a Popsicle. One wanting the other's treat.Down the Hatch! But Now What?This is an article for the fearlessly curious, the kind of person who when hearing the colon referred to as "charming" must investigate! (There's also our second brains and a team of good bacteria to discover!)
          • 24144839541_8aeb3b632d_kIt’s Dance or Die for this Adorable SpiderThe male peacock jumping spider has one of the most eccentric mating dances you'll come across, and there's a reason he has to put on quite a show!
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      • Philosophy
          • Image: Louisa on Chuck's chestMicro-Preemie Turns 21: A Success Story for Everyone!When life gets difficult there's always something we can learn and use for the rest of our lives. 21 years ago, Dr. Lynda (EWC's founder) gave birth to a 1 pound baby when she was just into the 5th month of her pregnancy. She picked up a few pearls of wisdom in the years that followed—here are 12.
          • Image: A famous, wild roller coaster at dusk in GermanyIs Happiness Truly Our End Goal?Most of us are running around looking to hold on to this thing called happiness, but these seem to be fleeting moments. Should we be focusing on something else instead? Listen to writer Emily Esfahani Smith's eye opening insight in her TED Talk!
          • Image: people placing their hands and feet in a circleWhy Asking for Help is a Sign of StrengthWhy do we feel embarrassed to ask for help? The wonderful (and hilarious) TED Talk Speaker Michele L. Sullivan helps us re-frame our perspective on asking for help, and how it all starts with having a little more compassion!
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  • Nature
      • Animals
          • Image: Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture with wings spreadIt’s Raining Bones! (And That’s a Good Thing!)When it comes to animals doing good in the world, vultures may not instantly come to mind. But bearded vultures are some of nature's most underappreciated creatures!
          • Image: Illustration of a Thylacine, Tasmanian TigerMeet One of Nature’s Most Confusing CreaturesHave you heard of the Tasmanian Tiger, or Thylacine? These wolf-like creatures are actually related to koalas! How? A process called convergent evolution.
          • Image: Orchid Bee approaches flowerThese Bees Make Their Own Perfume!Male orchid bees don't just look beautiful, they also smell beautiful (well, to female bees anyway). These little guys are the perfumers of the forest, collecting smells in hopes of finding a mate. Here's how they do it!
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      • Environment
          • Image: rust colored oil in clear aqua blue water with a boat working to skim oilYour Spare Hair Could Clean the Ocean!Did you know you are growing a way to combat oil spills? Every day, hairdressers are throwing out pounds of hair that can be used to help clean up the environment! Clean Wave is putting that hair to good use, keeping the oceans safe and protecting wildlife.
          • Image: Painting from Zaria Forman of the Getz Ice Shelf in Antarctica viewed from aboveWhen Art and Science IntersectThis isn't a photograph of the Getz Ice Shelf, its a drawing! Zaria Forman creates large-scale depictions of glaciers, and NASA's Operation IceBridge invited her on a trip to get even closer to them. Heres that story and the gorgeous creations that came from it!
          • Image: Man on boat over coral reefWhy Are Coral Stressed About Current Events?We know that coral is beautiful and that it's in danger, but what exactly is coral? Learning about these complex creatures helps us understand how to work to save and preserve them for the next generations!
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      • Conservation & Sustainability
          • Image: rust colored oil in clear aqua blue water with a boat working to skim oilYour Spare Hair Could Clean the Ocean!Did you know you are growing a way to combat oil spills? Every day, hairdressers are throwing out pounds of hair that can be used to help clean up the environment! Clean Wave is putting that hair to good use, keeping the oceans safe and protecting wildlife.
          • Image: Man on boat over coral reefWhy Are Coral Stressed About Current Events?We know that coral is beautiful and that it's in danger, but what exactly is coral? Learning about these complex creatures helps us understand how to work to save and preserve them for the next generations!
          • Image: Icelandic horse in front of a barren landscapeIceland’s Comeback StoryIceland may be well known for its barren and sweeping landscapes, but the island didn't always look like that. Here's how scientists are using the latest science to regrow Iceland's long-lost forests.
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  • Creativity
      • Art
          • Image: Painting from Zaria Forman of the Getz Ice Shelf in Antarctica viewed from aboveWhen Art and Science IntersectThis isn't a photograph of the Getz Ice Shelf, its a drawing! Zaria Forman creates large-scale depictions of glaciers, and NASA's Operation IceBridge invited her on a trip to get even closer to them. Heres that story and the gorgeous creations that came from it!
          • Image: bacteria artThe Beautiful World of BacteriaBefore you cringe, bacteria aren't all "scary" or "bad". In fact, bacteria are not only beautiful, they are essential to keeping us healthy and alive! So here are some of the artists and scientists who are celebrating the wonders of the microbial world.
          • Image: Michoacan copper vesselsCreating Beauty from ScrapsMexico's copper artisans are some of the most skilled in the world. Their work recycles the materials of everyday objects and transforms them into remarkable works of art.
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      • Dance
          • Image: Hussein Smko performing outsideWhen Dance Creates OpportunitiesHussein Smko grew up in war-torn Iraq, and he's turned his experience into an opportunity. Through his performance, this dancer is not only telling his story, but making it possible for others to share theirs.
          • Image: Older couple dancing togetherYour Dance Moves Say More About You Than You Think!Whether your preferred move is the running man or the moonwalk, here's the science to help you bust it better!
          • Image: Person holding a paintbrush covered in paint in front of a wall with graffiti on itWhen (Artistic) Worlds CollideWhat happens when you take a graffiti artist and a painter and give them one day to create a mural together? (Spoiler: it's definitely some sort of magic!)
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      • Music
          • Image: Abstract blobs of colorSynesthesia: Wiring the Senses TogetherSynesthesia could be called a superpower, so what is life like for people who can see music or taste color? This is the fascinating science behind it all!
          • Image: Person holding a paintbrush covered in paint in front of a wall with graffiti on itWhen (Artistic) Worlds CollideWhat happens when you take a graffiti artist and a painter and give them one day to create a mural together? (Spoiler: it's definitely some sort of magic!)
          • Image: Abstract collage of a face rabbits and psychedelic patternsThis Device Turns Brain Waves Into Music!This isn't like music you've heard before, in fact, it doesn't even sound all that great. But, it CAN save lives by detecting seizures when there are no other symptoms present.
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      • Design
          • Image: Group of school children wearing the shoe that growsThe Shoe that Grows Keeps Growing!What if more businesses were built to have a positive impact on the world? Kenton Lee, the founder of The Shoe that Grows, is working to make an even greater positive impact on the globe with the launch of GroFive, and Expandles!
          • Image: man processing sisalSisal! The Plant that Points to PossibilitiesThis Kenyan farmer has invented machines that help this cactus-like plant give farmers across the world stability in a changing climate.
          • Image: Abstract blobs of colorSynesthesia: Wiring the Senses TogetherSynesthesia could be called a superpower, so what is life like for people who can see music or taste color? This is the fascinating science behind it all!
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      • Photography
          • Image: Colorized Image of peasant women from RussiaBringing Color Back to our PastWhat stories do images from the past tell us? How might they speak to us differently if we could easily see ourselves reflected in them?
          • Image: Graffiti of a cubist style painting of a faceStories Behind the Faces of PowerWhat if we removed the veil of power and could see people at "the top" for who they really are? Here's a photographer whose stories do just that!
          • Image: Graffiti face on a garbage canLitterati: Connecting Us All and Changing Paradigms!Have you heard of the amazing social media project that can eliminate litter from our planet? It's bringing together ordinary people, brands, governments and the power of big data--all with a novel artistic magnetism!
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  • Science
      • Health
          • Image: A beautiful landscape of green wheat fields on one side and brown wheat fields on the otherJanine Shepherd: The Flight of an Unstoppable SpiritA world of possibilities is waiting for us if we lighten our load! Here is an amazing person to be our guide.
          • Image: Louisa on Chuck's chestMicro-Preemie Turns 21: A Success Story for Everyone!When life gets difficult there's always something we can learn and use for the rest of our lives. 21 years ago, Dr. Lynda (EWC's founder) gave birth to a 1 pound baby when she was just into the 5th month of her pregnancy. She picked up a few pearls of wisdom in the years that followed—here are 12.
          • Image: Magnification of normal human gastric mucosa, also known as the inner most layer of the stomach. Dyed.Mucus Does A Lot More Than Just Leak From Your NoseWe're thinking it's about time we all give this goop a little more credit for being the amazing innovation it really is!
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      • Space
          • Image: Astronaut on space walk orbiting earth and waving at the cameraHow Do Space Suits Even Work?We've seen people walk on the moon in them, but how has that been possible? What is it about a space suit that enables it to protect us out there?
          • Image: A zinnia that was grown in space floating inside of the ISS with the Earth behind it.Did You Know We Can Garden in Space?Lettuce, zinnias, peas, and radishes are just some of the plants that have found their roots in space. But what does this mean for our future?
          • Image: Chris Hadfield in the International Space Station with a bubble of water floating in his faceHave a Question? Ask an Astronaut!Want to know if you'll really get taller if you go to space? Or where we're at with warp speed? We know you definitely want to know what it smells like up there. Astronaut Chris Hadfield discusses all of this and more in this awesome video.
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      • Psychology
          • Image: A beautiful landscape of green wheat fields on one side and brown wheat fields on the otherJanine Shepherd: The Flight of an Unstoppable SpiritA world of possibilities is waiting for us if we lighten our load! Here is an amazing person to be our guide.
          • Image: Boy in a striped shirt smilingThe Universal Language of Our EmotionsDoes your smile mean the same thing as my smile? What about your frown? How is it that we can intuitively understand another person's emotions simply by looking at their expressions? There are a few universals in life, and our smiles may just be one of them.
          • Image: Older couple dancing togetherYour Dance Moves Say More About You Than You Think!Whether your preferred move is the running man or the moonwalk, here's the science to help you bust it better!
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  • Culture
      • Travel
          • Image: A line of Moai statues on Rapa Nui also called Easter IslandPreserving the Cultural Heritage of Rapa NuiRapa Nui, or Easter Island, is well known for its Moai. While many go to see these incredible stone statues that tower over the landscape, few are introduced to the rich culture they represent. This is the story of that culture and the people working to preserve it!
          • Image: Team of climbers in winter gear climbing a snowy mountainBringing Bangladesh to the Top of the WorldClimbing to the highest peak of every continent is no small feat. So what does it take for a person to conquer the Seven Summits? For Wasfia Nazreen, it began with a mission to put her country on the map and fight for the empowerment of women.
          • Image: A close-up portrait of a female orangutan (Pongo pymaeus) and her young together, Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan, Borneo, IndonesiaOrangutan Culture Feels Very… FamiliarWe share 97% of our DNA with orangutans, but what we've known about their cultural customs and habits have been limited... until now.
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      • Sports
          • Image: Machine smashing through some mudWhat’s More Fun Than Mud?We've all played in mud at some point in our lives, but when did that stop? And why? We may all be able to learn a little something about the power of play and innovation from these mudslingers!
          • Image: Person kayaking with their back to the camera, heading off into the sunsetWhat Happens When Athletes and Scientists Team Up?To put it simply: breakthroughs. This nonprofit is making it possible for scientists to get the data they need from every corner of the planet by teaming them up with the adventurers who are already there.
          • Image: Team of climbers in winter gear climbing a snowy mountainBringing Bangladesh to the Top of the WorldClimbing to the highest peak of every continent is no small feat. So what does it take for a person to conquer the Seven Summits? For Wasfia Nazreen, it began with a mission to put her country on the map and fight for the empowerment of women.
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      • Food
          • Image: Chinese food on a tableHave You Heard of Cecilia Chiang?If you’ve ever enjoyed Chinese food in the United States, like potstickers and Peking duck, then we’d like to introduce you to Cecilia Chiang. She's the "Julia Child" of Chinese cuisine, and the story of how she changed the way Americans eat is as remarkable as her influence!
          • Sac_japonica_ropes_smallAre Sea-Greens the New Superfood?The benefits of kelp farming are too extensive to list in full here (but one of the most important may just be that it's cleaning the ocean—naturally.)
          • Image: Colorful varieties of heirloom corn laid out next to each otherIs Tradition the Secret Ingredient to Great Food?If you want to have a really, really good tortilla, you're going to need the best corn. Masienda is a company not only supporting Mexico's small heirloom corn farmers but bringing the practices that enhance the nutritional powers of the grain back into the market.
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      • History
          • Image: Icelandic horse in front of a barren landscapeIceland’s Comeback StoryIceland may be well known for its barren and sweeping landscapes, but the island didn't always look like that. Here's how scientists are using the latest science to regrow Iceland's long-lost forests.
          • Image: A line of Moai statues on Rapa Nui also called Easter IslandPreserving the Cultural Heritage of Rapa NuiRapa Nui, or Easter Island, is well known for its Moai. While many go to see these incredible stone statues that tower over the landscape, few are introduced to the rich culture they represent. This is the story of that culture and the people working to preserve it!
          • Image: Michoacan copper vesselsCreating Beauty from ScrapsMexico's copper artisans are some of the most skilled in the world. Their work recycles the materials of everyday objects and transforms them into remarkable works of art.
        • Close
      • Special Occasion
          • Image: Louisa on Chuck's chestMicro-Preemie Turns 21: A Success Story for Everyone!When life gets difficult there's always something we can learn and use for the rest of our lives. 21 years ago, Dr. Lynda (EWC's founder) gave birth to a 1 pound baby when she was just into the 5th month of her pregnancy. She picked up a few pearls of wisdom in the years that followed—here are 12.
          • Image: Group toasting with beer glassesCheers to Years of TraditionLet EWC help you celebrate the holiday season by spotlighting some of the oldest and quirkiest brews in the world! From enjoying beers the Pharaohs would have sipped to wine fermented at the bottom of the sea, these brewmasters are certainly proving it's still an amazing world!
          • Image: the diamond ring effect on the sun caused by a full solar ecipseThe Day the Darkness Brought Us TogetherThough the Great American Eclipse has passed, the lessons we learned that day about our greater sense of possibility and connection are something we can pause to celebrate and carry with us!
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      • Saturdays Around the World
          • Image: Icelandic horse in front of a barren landscapeIceland’s Comeback StoryIceland may be well known for its barren and sweeping landscapes, but the island didn't always look like that. Here's how scientists are using the latest science to regrow Iceland's long-lost forests.
          • Image: A line of Moai statues on Rapa Nui also called Easter IslandPreserving the Cultural Heritage of Rapa NuiRapa Nui, or Easter Island, is well known for its Moai. While many go to see these incredible stone statues that tower over the landscape, few are introduced to the rich culture they represent. This is the story of that culture and the people working to preserve it!
          • Image: Dogs and Volunteers at Territorio de ZaguatesA Sanctuary for Costa Rica’s StraysTerritorio de Zaguates is providing care to nearly a thousand dogs that have been taken off the streets of Costa Rica. Their story is a testament to the impact the love and determination of one person can have on others.
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Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

COO Ever Widening Circles

Liesl is a camera-toting traveler, a global story seeker, and an aspiring—but more often floundering—yoga lover. She can be found on Instagram @Liesl.UV

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Lynda Ulrich

Founder, CEO

Dr. Lynda is a dentist, artist, global traveler, and philanthropist who looks for potential and shares it with the world.

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Dr. Chuck Verderber

CFO

Dr. Chuck is our CFO--Chief Fun Officer--at Ever Widening Circles. He and Dr. Lynda are dentists in and practice together at Fiddlehead Dental in Northern Vermont.

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Samantha Burns

Executive Assistant, Staff Writer

Samantha is a listener, creator, collector of knick knacks and lover of most, if not all, types of cheese.

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Abigayle Fugere

Abi is passionate about warm chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk, analyzing numbers, and soaking up the sun on the beach.

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These are some of the new innovations in science, technology, healthcare, and even food that are shaping a brighter future for us all!

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