Lessons from the Ocean and The Importance of the Night-Time Economy - Top Stories of the Week

Explore a curated collection of the World Economic Forum's top stories covering emerging global trends and innovative solutions across multiple sectors. Discover five trending terms from Davos 2026, including concepts like the triple bubble, inclusive AI, and the quantum economy that are shaping future economic discussions. Learn from celebrated oceanographer Sylvia Earle's lifetime of ocean research and her insights on environmental destruction and reasons for optimism about making a positive difference in marine conservation. Examine the growing phenomenon of night-time economies through interviews with three "night mayors" from Boston, Philadelphia, and New South Wales who oversee and advocate for businesses, workers, and consumers in the after-hours economy that strengthens cities worldwide. Witness how artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionizing archaeological work at Pompeii, transforming the complex task of reassembling thousands of shattered fresco fragments from the ancient ruins using cutting-edge digital technology that makes solving multiple simultaneous puzzles without reference images possible.

Syllabus

- 5 trending terms you might hear from Davos in 2026: From the triple bubble to inclusive AI and the quantum economy, here’s a short explainer of phrases you might hear from Davos this year.
- Sylvia Earle has spent a lifetime studying the ocean. Here’s what she’s learned: There has never been a better time to make a difference, says celebrated oceanographer Sylvia Earle.Over her long career, she has seen first-hand the destruction humanity has wrought on the natural world, including the #ocean - but she remains optimistic.
- 3 ‘night mayors’ on why night-time economies make cities stronger: More than 80 cities worldwide have now appointed ‘night mayors’ to oversee and grow their night-time economies, and to advocate for the businesses, workers and consumers who keep it running. We spoke to 3 of them: Corean Reynolds, Director of Nightlife Economy for the City of Boston; Raheem Manning, Senior Director, Nighttime Economy for the City of Philadelphia; and Michael Rodrigues, 24-Hour Economy Commissioner for New South Wales.
- AI and robotics are piecing Pompeii's lost treasures back together: Imagine trying to solve several different jigsaw puzzles all at once - without being able to see the pictures on the boxes. That’s the task that has faced archaeologists working to reassemble the shattered frescoes rescued from the ruins of Pompeii. Today, however, cutting-edge digital technology is transforming this painstaking and often frustrating task.