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In December 2022, Matthew Boyer hopped on an Argentine military plane to one of the more remote habitations on Earth: Marambio Station at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, where the icy continent stretches toward South America. Months before that, Boyer had to ship expensive, delicate instruments that might get busted by the time he landed. When you arrive, you have boxes that have been sometimes sitting outside in Antarctica for a month or two in a cold warehouse, said Boyer, a PhD student in atmospheric science at the University of Helsinki. And were talking about sensitive instrumentation. But the effort paid off, because Boyer and his colleagues found something peculiar about penguin guano. In a paper published on Thursday in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, they describe how ammonia wafting off the droppings of 60,000 birds contributed to the formation of clouds that might be insulating Antarctica, helping cool down an otherwise rapidly warming continent. Some penguin populations, however, are under serious threat because of climate change. Losing them and their guano could mean fewer clouds and more heating in an already fragile ecosystem, one so full of ice that it will significantly raise sea levels worldwide as it melts. A better understanding of this dynamic could help scientists hone their models of how Antarctica will transform as the world warms. They can now investigate, for instance, if some penguin species produce more ammonia and, therefore, more of a cooling effect. Thats the impact of this paper, said Tamara Russell, a marine ornithologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who studies penguins but wasnt involved in the research. That will inform the models better, because we know that some species are decreasing, some are increasing, and thats going to change a lot down there in many different ways. With their expensive instruments, Boyer and his research team measured atmospheric ammonia between January and March 2023, summertime in the southern hemisphere. They found that when the wind was blowing from an Adelie penguin colony 5 miles away from the detectors, concentrations of the gas shot up to 1,000 times higher than the baseline. Even when the penguins had moved out of the colony after breeding, ammonia concentrations remained elevated for at least a month, as the guano continued emitting the gas. That atmospheric ammonia could have been helping cool the area. The researchers further demonstrated that the ammonia kicks off an atmospheric chain reaction. Out at sea, tiny plantlike organisms known as phytoplankton release the gas dimethyl sulfide, which transforms into sulphuric acid in the atmosphere. Because ammonia is a base, it reacts readily with this acid. This coupling results in the rapid formation of aerosol particles. Clouds form when water vapor gloms onto any number of different aerosols, like soot and pollen, floating around in the atmosphere. In populated places, these particles are more abundant, because industries and vehicles emit so many of them as pollutants. Trees and other vegetation spew aerosols, too. But because Antarctica lacks trees and doesnt have much vegetation at all, the aerosols from penguin guano and phytoplankton can make quite an impact. In February 2023, Boyer and the other researchers measured a particularly strong burst of particles associated with guano, sampled a resulting fog a few hours later, and found particles created by the interaction of ammonia from the guano and sulphuric acid from the plankton. There is a deep connection between these ecosystem processes, between penguins and phytoplankton at the ocean surface, Boyer said. Their gas is all interacting to form these particles and clouds. But heres where the climate impacts get a bit trickier. Scientists know that in general, clouds cool Earths climate by reflecting some of the suns energy back into space. Although Boyer and his team hypothesize that clouds enhanced with penguin ammonia are probably helping cool this part of Antarctica, they note that they didnt quantify that climate effect, which would require further research. Thats a critical bit of information because of the potential for the warming climate to create a feedback loop. As oceans heat up, penguins are losing access to some of their prey, and colonies are shrinking or disappearing as a result. Fewer penguins producing guano means less ammonia and fewer clouds, which means more warming and more disruptions to the animals, and on and on in a self-reinforcing cycle. If this paper is correctand it really seems to be a nice piece of work to me[theres going to be] a feedback effect, where its going to accelerate the changes that are already pushing change in the penguins, said Peter Roopnarine, curator of geology at the California Academy of Sciences. Scientists might now look elsewhere, Roopnarine adds, to find other bird colonies that could also be providing cloud cover. Protecting those species from pollution and hunting would be a natural way to engineer Earth systems to offset some planetary warming. We think its for the sake of the birds, Roopnarine said. Well, obviously it goes well beyond that. By Matt Simon, Grist This article was originally published by Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for its newsletter here.
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Business leaders love to talk about innovation. But for all the energy poured into frameworks and strategy decks, most teams rarely experience what innovation actually feels like. Real innovation is uncertain, emotional, iterative, and profoundly human. Thats why Cliff has spent the past several years guiding organizations through songwriting experiencesyes, literal songwritingto unlock the emotional and relational capacities that innovation demands. And as someone who works at the intersection of story, leadership, and transformational design, Tony sees this as more than a clever workshop: its a reorientation. The same skills it takes to write a compelling songlateral thinking, storytelling, empathy, collaboration, and creative risk-takingare the ones we need to build bold, resilient cultures. Songwriting teaches us more than how to think differently; it teaches us how to be different together. Innovation Is an Emotional Skill Innovation is often framed as a technical challenge. But research suggests the opposite: its emotional first. According to McKinsey & Company, organizations with the highest innovation scores also rank highest on soft skills like trust, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety. Meanwhile, Gallup data shows only 29% of employees say theyre expected to be creative at work, and just three in ten feel they have the chance to do what they do best every day. The problem isnt a lack of ideas. Its a lack of environments where risk, play, and expression are welcomed, let alone expected. This is where songwriting changes the game. In the space of a single facilitated session, teams cocreate something meaningful from nothing. They navigate ambiguity, listen closely, reframe messagesand yes, make something that sings. Not because theyre professional musicians, but because theyre immersed in a process that demands trust, presence, and creative momentum. The Seven Innovation Skills, As Told by Songwriting Too often, we treat creativity as a side activity. But songwriting isnt an extra. Its a mirror for the innovation journey itself. Heres how it maps directly to seven essential innovation skills and why it works: 1. Lateral Thinking The Metaphor. Innovation means getting out of the obvious. Writing metaphors trains the brain to think sideways, to turn literal ideas into poetic ones. Its not just a creativity hackits a neurological shift. Stuck thinking begins to loosen. 2. Creativity The Verse. Creativity isnt magic; its a method. Writing verses requires sequencing, voice, and structure. Its storytelling in rhythm. For teams, this becomes practice in shaping ideas with intention and clarity, something we should emphasize in narrative strategy sessions. 3. Communication The Chorus. A chorus carries the emotional center of the song. It must resonate, repeat, and land. Similarly, every great innovation needs a core message that sticks. The chorus teaches teams to distill complexity into coherence and find the line people will remember. 4. Empathy Observation. To write lyrics that land, you need to observe deeply. Whats unsaid? Whats felt? Songwriting strengthens the skill of attunementthe ability to read emotional subtext, a fundamental asset for human-centered innovation. 5. Collaboration Cowriting. Cowriting is the innovation lab in miniature. Theres friction, refinement, and co-ownership. Innovation isnt about consensus. Its about staying in creative tension long enough to find something better than anyone could create alone. 6. Risk-Taking Vulnerability. Sharing lyrics out loud is deeply vulnerable. Singing them? Even more so. But when teams experience structured creative risk in a psychologically safe space, their tolerance for ambiguity expands, and their courage grows. 7. Diffusion Performance. A song doesnt live until its shared. Performing it completes the arc. Like any innovation, its not enough to build somethingyou have to deliver it. Performance transforms creativity into connection. It makes the work matter. One Teams Transformation When Cliff leads a songwriting program, participants are never told beforehand theyll be writing and performing a song. Why? Two reasons. First, it avoids the anticipatory resistance that creative work can trigger. Second, the moment they discover whats coming, it unlocks a kind of flow stateone where fear and distraction give way to full presence. At a recent offsite for a Fortune 500 company, one participant, a former prison warden, started out stone-faced and silent. But when the group chose 80s metal ballad as the genre for their song, he lit up. Not only did he contribute lyrics, but he also sang lead vocals at the end. His transformation from skeptic to center-stage performer reframed how his team saw him and how he saw himself. Culture as a Creative Practice In our work, we both see this truth: innovation isnt just a process to manage. Its a culture to curate. And culture doesnt change through mandates. It changes through meaning. It changes when teams gather around a campfire, share a personal story, or sketch the opening lyrics of something no ones ever made before. Thats why we design offsites around nature walks and story circlesnot because theyre trendy, but because theyre necessary. Creativity needs conditions. Songwriting creates them. When leaders make space for art, ritual, and emotion, theyre not just encouraging creativity. Theyre building the emotional infrastructure innovation requires. Your next strategy session doesnt need more slides; it might just need a chorus. We dont teach songwriting to turn executives into musicians. We teach it because songwriting is a shortcut to the human skills of innovation. Its experiential, connective, and brings people back to what it feels like to make something that matters. And more than anything, it reminds teams that creativity isnt far away. Its already in the roomwaiting to be invited in.
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Neri Karra Sillaman is an adviser and speaker who was recently recognized on the Thinkers50 Radar list for 2024 as one of the top 30 emerging management thinkers. She is an adjunct professor and entrepreneurship expert at the University of Oxford, and founder of Neri Karra, a global luxury leather goods brand that has been manufacturing for leading Italian labels for over 25 years. A former child refugee, she brings a powerful perspective on resilience, cultural innovation, and ethical business to her work. Her insights have been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and Fortune. Whats the big idea? Its no coincidence that immigrant-led businesses have better survival and long-term success rates. Common threads of the immigrant experience tend to naturally strengthen the necessary skills to build a thriving business. Qualities such as personal resilience, commitment to a greater purpose, and authentic community building give many immigrants an edge as entrepreneurs. Below, Neri shares five key insights from her new book, Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs. Listen to the audio versionread by Neri herselfin the Next Big Idea App. 1. Start with who you are, not just whats missing Most entrepreneurs are told to scan the market for gaps to fill. But immigrant entrepreneurs often do something radically differentthey begin by looking inward. They build businesses rooted in their personal stories, cultural legacies, and lived experiences. When Jan Koum, co-founder of WhatsApp, remembered the fear of phone surveillance in Soviet Ukraine and the costs of calling his family from America, he didnt just see problemshe envisioned a solution. WhatsApp became a free, ad-free, encrypted service that now connects nearly three billion people. This principle of inside-out entrepreneurship isnt just more humanits more resilient. When the origin of your idea is deeply meaningful, your motivation is more sustainable. Youre not chasing trends. Youre building what only you can build. 2. Necessity is the fuel of endurance Immigrants often dont start businesses because they want to. They do it because they have to. This is what I call necessity entrepreneurship. Companies started by immigrants tend to grow faster and survive longer. Necessity isnt a disadvantage. Its a source of grit. When youve fled war, rebuilt your life from nothing, or supported your family with little more than hope, you develop a drive that doesnt quit when things get hard. This endurance often makes immigrant-founded businesses outlast their peers. In fact, companies started by immigrants tend to grow faster and survive longer. In a world where 90% of startups fail, that kind of staying power is worth paying attention to. 3. Community is the business model Long before stakeholder capitalism was a buzzword, immigrant entrepreneurs were practicing it. Many come from collectivist cultures or grew up relying on informal networks of support. That mindset shows up in how they build companies. Take the story of my own business: we got out of a refugee camp in Istanbul thanks to a distant relative who took us in. Today, her children are my factory manager and accountant. We didnt just build a brandwe built a family business, sustained by trust. Community is not a nice to have. For many immigrant founders, it is the secret to longevity. They succeed because they lift others as they rise. 4. Build with legacy in mind, not just profit Immigrant entrepreneurs tend to have a long-term lens. Perhaps its because theyve witnessed how quickly everything can disappear. Or because theyve felt the weight of whats been lost and the responsibility to create something that endures. Companies that last are the ones rooted in purpose. Luis von Ahn, founder of Duolingo, grew up in Guatemala, where access to education was limited. He didnt just build a tech company; he built a free tool to democratize language learning worldwide. Thats what legacy looks like. Profit is important. But the immigrant entrepreneurs I interviewed showed again and again: the companies that last are the ones rooted in purpose. 5. Connection is the true currency of success Success stories are often told in isolation, but nobody does it alone. Immigrant entrepreneurs understand this better than most. Theyve seen how invisible networksfamily ties, community trust, shared experiencecan shape their futures. In the book, I write: Forests appear to be made up of individual trees, but each one thrives only because of the vast, interconnected root system below. Thats what Ive found in immigrant-led businesses, too. Whether its a factory built with childhood friends or a mentorship that changes everything, the unseen connections are what make a business resilient. Theyre also what make it human. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.
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