--- description: Eel drones, an interactive map for DC gridlock, how ISIS might self destruct and the FCC opens the door to a digital future for libraries. title: These Are Today's Best Ideas image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Innovation](/tag/innovation/) ## Innovation Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Five Best Ideas of the Day: December 12 by [The Aspen Institute](/author/the-aspen-institute/) ## The Aspen Institute Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 12, 2014 5:01 PM CUT by [The Aspen Institute](/author/the-aspen-institute/) ## The Aspen Institute Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 12, 2014 5:01 PM CUT **1\.** [**Eel drones are the future of undersea warfare.**](http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2014/12/why-eel-drones-are-future-naval-warfare/100500/ "undefined") By Patrick Tucker in Defense One **2\.** [**This interactive map points the way to breaking gridlock in Washington and reconnecting Americans to the policy conversation.**](https://www.kumu.io/hewlettfoundation/hewlett-foundation-madison-initiative "undefined") By the Hewlett Foundation Madison Initiative **3\.** [**Fear of terrorism has radically changed America’s public spaces.**](https://theconversation.com/access-denied-how-security-is-transforming-public-space-32660 "undefined") By Susan Silberberg in The Conversation **4\.** [**By dividing Muslims, ISIS might be sowing the seeds of its own destruction.**](http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-30409764 "undefined") By Mark Mardell in BBC **5\.** [**Yesterday, the FCC boosted access to free, high-quality internet at America’s public libraries, opening the door to digital opportunity for all.**](http://www.aspeninstitute.org/about/blog/libraries-digital-future-fcc-e-rate "undefined") By Reed Hundt in the Aspen Idea  [_The Aspen Institute_](http://www.aspeninstitute.org/ "undefined") _is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3631708/five-best-ideas-of-the-day-december-12/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3631708/five-best-ideas-of-the-day-december-12/"},"headline":"Five Best Ideas of the Day: December 12","datePublished":"2014-12-12T17:01:55.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:06:42.550Z","description":"Eel drones, an interactive map for DC gridlock, how ISIS might self destruct and the FCC opens the door to a digital future for libraries.","url":"https://time.com/3631708/five-best-ideas-of-the-day-december-12/","keywords":["Innovation","Congress","Washington","ISIS","Drones","FCC","Islam","gridlock","Libraries","interactive","washington DC","Islamic State"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"The Aspen Institute","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/the-aspen-institute/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/innovation/","name":"Innovation"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3631708/five-best-ideas-of-the-day-december-12/","name":"Five Best Ideas of the Day: December 12"}}]}] ```