Energy distribution has not changed much since the large-scale deployment of AC power lines and oil and gas pipelines began a century ago. But that’s all about to change. Superconductivity and cryogenics have matured to the point where a super-efficient transmission network can now transport and store unimaginable quantities of energy, when and where it’s needed. We’ll show you why this is such an important breakthrough for the environment and the economy.

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Here at Trends, our highest priority is learning from others’ mistakes as well as our own. Companies in a wide range of fields are formally embracing “learning from failure” as a key step toward making better decisions. However, it’s unclear if these firms, or the professionals in them, understand how to make the most of these learning experiences. We’ll explore the barriers to effective learning and explain how you can avoid these pitfalls.

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Until about 60 years ago, American grandparents were a crucial source of wisdom and strength for the family. They played a central role in an extended family network. Several generations of the same family might live on the same block, if not in the same house. Then, in the second half of the 20th century, grandparents largely disappeared from the day-to-day lives of their grandchildren. But now, that trend is reversing. What are the implications and opportunities? Keep listening.

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As we’ve highlighted in recent issues, biotech tools are becoming dramatically more sophisticated and easy to use. At the same time, knowledge of gene splicing technology is being widely disseminated by industry and universities. These trends are converging to place biological weapons capabilities within the grasp of terrorists. How big is this threat? And, what countermeasures can we take? We’ll explain.

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When it comes to anonymous stock tips, it’s a “bull” market — in more ways than one. The kind of pump-and-dump stock scammers we last saw in the ‘90s are back. This time, they aren’t just going after little old ladies; they are even trying to defraud hedge fund managers. What’s the risk? How can you protect yourself? We’ll tell you the truth.

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Originally lauded, and more recently demonized, Wal-Mart has become the single most powerful entity driving global productivity, higher living standards, and low inflation. What is so influential about Wal-Mart’s business model? What are the implications for its competitors, suppliers, customers, and society in general? We’ll explain.

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