How eels could help power robots, US tech has stiff competition, and other trending stories

During the week, the Daily Rundown brings you the day’s trending professional news. On the weekend, we try to keep you current on the big ideas that can help you see what’s coming. Read on and join the conversation.

If battery makers have a muse, it’s most certainly the electric eel. Alessandro Volta turned to the electric eel for inspiration when he created the first synthetic battery in 1799. And electric eels, which can generate up to 600 volts of power by engaging their own muscle cells, are at it again. Scientists from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland have used the eel’s unique design to develop a gel-based soft battery that could one day power the next generation of humanoid robots or medical implants. Even better, these batteries could be fueled by the human body’s existing mixture of salt and other fluids. ? Share your thoughts: #ElectricEelBattery

Is America’s technological star fading? A few signs suggest yes, says the World Economic Forum’s Mehran Gul. In 2013, 70% of startup unicorns were based in the US. This year, 40% of new unicorns were US-based, Gul tells LinkedIn’s Alexander Besant. Meanwhile, some of America’s tech stars have been outflanked by their rivals abroad (Uber ceding to Didi Chuxing in China; Facebook trailing VKontacte in Russia). While not everyone is convinced — pointing to America’s universities, contract laws, and deep pockets as evidence — Gul argues that the rest of the world is preparing for their economic close-up. ? Share your thoughts: #USTechFading

Climate change: The case for optimism

The headlines about the life-threatening consequences associated with climate change can be disheartening — but Bill Gates thinks humanity has a good shot at survival. Here are a few promising developments that are keeping Gates’ outlook sunny.? Join the conversation: #ClimateChangeHope

• Turning sunlight into fuel. Solar energy has incredible potential, but how do you store it for later use? You could convert it into liquid fuel. A team at Caltech is turning to plants for inspiration.
• Go deep, very deep. There is a massive amount of geothermal energy beneath the Earth’s surface. You can access it by pumping steam or hot water from below ground. Dormant coal mines could come in handy for this.
• Smart farming. Hundreds of millions who eat what they grow may go hungry or be forced to migrate because of climate change. Developing more efficient crops that can better resist disease and drought could ease that burden.

America’s most — and least — healthy states: When it comes to health, the US is all over the map. Massachusetts took top honors in a recent ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation. Mississippi, with elevated levels of childhood poverty and a large smoking population, was at the bottom. Meanwhile, the entire nation is struggling with an uptick in premature deaths and obesity. ? Join the conversation: #USPublicHealth

Comment of the week: “Knowing what to do is essential to any job, but knowing why is what makes every human being feel important and a part of the team.” —Joel Goodrich

Manufacturers desperate for workers are taking their case to parents. As unemployment plummets, manufacturers looking to fill some 400,000 openings are getting a jumpstart on recruitment and going straight to parents, reports the Wall Street Journal. Industrial giants such as Toyota and Michelin are taking part in parents’ nights, where they can dispel myths and ease concerns about manufacturing careers. Some are even sweetening the bargain, offering to pay for students’ education in exchange for work commitments. As college debt levels climb, such offerings may sway students and parents alike. ? Share your thoughts: #ManufacturingParents

One last idea: Many corporations are caught in an unhealthy pursuit of growth at all costs, argues author Douglas Rushkoff. He offers his own 12-step recovery plan, which includes keeping the focus on what you offer customers, not potential suitors. ? Share your thoughts: #GrowthAddiction

“Your goods and services are your product — not your stock. Don’t build a company to sell it to someone else; build it to run it, yourself. Companies are not disposable. An ‘exit strategy’ is for Ponzi schemes.”

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