G Money

“Your cable box doesn’t work! And you’ve given me terrible service.” That was the speech that composer, writer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda had ready when he answered a call he was sure was from his cable company trying to win back his business. It turned out to be the MacArthur Foundation calling to tell him that he was one of 24 recipients of this year’s fellowships — otherwise know as genius grants — which include $625,000 paid out over a few years. (It doesn’t take a genius to know that the only time a cable company calls is when your bill is late.)

+ One of this year’s recipients is U.C. Berkeley’s Peidong Yang who has managed to create artificial leaves that photosynthesize. “And just like nature’s version of photosynthesis, it releases oxygen into the air.”