diff --git a/contracts/Forum.sol b/contracts/Forum.sol
index cbd2470..acea856 100644
--- a/contracts/Forum.sol
+++ b/contracts/Forum.sol
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ contract Forum {
         return false;
     }
 
-    //---------OrbitDB---------
+    //----------------------------------------OrbitDB----------------------------------------
     struct OrbitDB {
         string id;     // TODO: set an upper bound instead of arbitrary string
         string topicsDB;    //TODO: not sure yet which of these are actually needed
@@ -123,11 +123,17 @@ contract Forum {
     mapping (uint => Topic) topics;
     mapping (uint => Post) posts;
 
+    event TopicCreated(uint topicID);
+    event PostCreated(uint postID, uint topicID);
+    event NumberOfTopicsReceived(uint numTopics);
+    event TopicReceived(string orbitTopicsDB, address author, string username, uint timestamp, uint[] postIDs);
+
     function createTopic() public returns (uint) {
         require(hasUserSignedUp(msg.sender));  // Only registered users can create topics
         uint topicID = numTopics++;
         topics[topicID] = Topic(topicID, msg.sender, block.timestamp, new uint[](0));
         users[msg.sender].topicIDs.push(topicID);
+        emit TopicCreated(topicID);
         return topicID;
     }
 
@@ -138,10 +144,33 @@ contract Forum {
         posts[postID] = Post(postID, msg.sender, block.timestamp);
         topics[topicID].postIDs.push(postID);
         users[msg.sender].postIDs.push(postID);
+        emit PostCreated(postID, topicID);
         return postID;
     }
 
-    function getTopicPosts (uint topicID) public view returns (uint[]) {
+    function getNumberOfTopics() public view returns (uint) {
+        emit NumberOfTopicsReceived(numTopics);
+        return numTopics;
+    }
+
+    function getTopic(uint topicID) public view returns (string, address, string, uint, uint[]) {
+        //require(hasUserSignedUp(msg.sender)); needed?
+        require(topicID<numTopics);
+        emit TopicReceived(getOrbitTopicsDB(topics[topicID].author),
+            topics[topicID].author,
+            users[topics[topicID].author].username,
+            topics[topicID].timestamp,
+            topics[topicID].postIDs);
+        return (
+            getOrbitTopicsDB(topics[topicID].author),
+            topics[topicID].author,
+            users[topics[topicID].author].username,
+            topics[topicID].timestamp,
+            topics[topicID].postIDs
+        );
+    }
+
+    function getTopicPosts(uint topicID) public view returns (uint[]) {
         require(topicID<numTopics); // Topic should exist
         return topics[topicID].postIDs;
     }
diff --git a/src/assets/css/App.css b/src/assets/css/App.css
index 503693b..d87580a 100644
--- a/src/assets/css/App.css
+++ b/src/assets/css/App.css
@@ -173,6 +173,10 @@ body,
   height: 200px;
 }
 
+.form-input-required {
+  border-color: red !important;
+}
+
 .markdownPreview {
   padding: 0px 20px;
 }
@@ -336,4 +340,33 @@ code {
 a {
   color:inherit;
   text-decoration: none;
+}
+
+.center-in-parent {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  text-align: center;
+}
+
+#overlay {
+    position: fixed;
+    display: block;
+    width: 100%;
+    height: 100%;
+    top: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    right: 0;
+    bottom: 0;
+    background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
+    z-index: 2;
+}
+
+#overlay-content{
+    position: absolute;
+    text-align: center;
+    top: 50%;
+    left: 50%;
+    color: white;
+    transform: translate(-50%,-50%);
+    -ms-transform: translate(-50%,-50%);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/FloatingButton.js b/src/components/FloatingButton.js
index 8ffa281..649cf96 100644
--- a/src/components/FloatingButton.js
+++ b/src/components/FloatingButton.js
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ import React from 'react';
 
 const FloatingButton = (props) => {
     return (
-        <div className="pure-u-1-1">
-            <p className="no-margin floating-button" data-fa-transform="down-6" onClick={props.onClick}>
+        <div className="pure-u-1-1" onClick={props.onClick}>
+            <p className="no-margin floating-button" data-fa-transform="down-6">
                 <i className="fa fa-plus fa-2x"></i>
             </p>
         </div>
diff --git a/src/components/StartTopic.js b/src/components/StartTopic.js
index 5785a7d..464eda5 100644
--- a/src/components/StartTopic.js
+++ b/src/components/StartTopic.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import { drizzleConnect } from 'drizzle-react'
 import React, { Component } from 'react'
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
+
 import Post from './Post'
 
 const contract = "Forum";
-const startTopicMethod = "createTopic";
+const contractMethod = "createTopic";
 
 class StartTopic extends Component {
     constructor(props, context) {
@@ -12,28 +13,49 @@ class StartTopic extends Component {
 
         this.handleInputChange = this.handleInputChange.bind(this);
         this.handlePreviewToggle = this.handlePreviewToggle.bind(this);
-        this.handleSubmit = this.handleSubmit.bind(this);
+        this.validateAndPost = this.validateAndPost.bind(this);
+        this.pushToDatabase = this.pushToDatabase.bind(this);
 
+        this.transactionProgressText = [];
         this.drizzle = context.drizzle;
-        this.drizzleState = this.drizzle.store.getState();
-        this.contracts = this.drizzle.contracts;
-        this.abi = this.contracts[contract].abi;
+
         this.state = {
             topicSubjectInput: '',
             topicMessageInput: '',
+            topicSubjectInputEmptySubmit: false,
+            topicMessageInputEmptySubmit: false,
             previewEnabled: false,
-            previewDate: ""
+            previewDate: "",
+            creatingTopic: false,
+            transactionState: null,
+            savingToOrbitDB: null
         };
     }
 
-    async handleSubmit() {
-        console.log("contracts:");
-        console.log(this.contracts);
-        console.log("DS contracts:");
-        console.log(this.drizzleState.contracts);
+    async validateAndPost() {
+        if (this.state.topicSubjectInput === '' || this.state.topicMessageInput === ''){
+            this.setState({
+                topicSubjectInputEmptySubmit: this.state.topicSubjectInput === '',
+                topicMessageInputEmptySubmit: this.state.topicMessageInput === ''
+            });
+            return;
+        }
+
+        this.stackId = this.drizzle.contracts[contract].methods[contractMethod].cacheSend();
+        this.transactionProgressText.push(<br/>);
+        this.transactionProgressText.push("Waiting for transaction acceptance...");
+        this.setState({
+            'creatingTopic': true,
+            'transactionState': "ACCEPTANCE_PENDING"
+        });
+    }
 
-        this.dataKey = this.drizzleState.contracts[contract].methods[startTopicMethod].cacheCall();
-        //TODO get return value and pass it to orbit
+    async pushToDatabase() {
+        await this.props.orbitDB.topicsDB.put(this.topicIDFetched, {
+            subject: this.state.topicSubjectInput,
+            content: this.state.topicMessageInput
+        });
+        this.setState({'savingToOrbitDB': "SUCCESS"});
     }
 
     handleInputChange(event) {
@@ -49,23 +71,25 @@ class StartTopic extends Component {
 
     getDate() {
         const currentdate = new Date();
-        return ((currentdate.getMonth() + 1)  + " " 
+        return ((currentdate.getMonth() + 1)  + " "
             + currentdate.getDate() + ", "
-            + currentdate.getFullYear() + ", "  
-            + currentdate.getHours() + ":"  
-            + currentdate.getMinutes() + ":" 
+            + currentdate.getFullYear() + ", "
+            + currentdate.getHours() + ":"
+            + currentdate.getMinutes() + ":"
             + currentdate.getSeconds());
     }
 
     render() {
-        if(this.dataKey) {
-            /*console.log(this.drizzleState);*/
-            if (this.drizzleState.contracts[contract]) {
-                console.log(this.drizzleState.contracts[contract].storedData[this.dataKey].value);
-            }
-        }
         return(
             <div>
+                {this.state.creatingTopic && <div id="overlay">
+                        <div id="overlay-content">
+                            <p><i className="fas fa-spinner fa-3x fa-spin"></i></p>
+                            <br/>
+                            {this.transactionProgressText}
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                }
                 <div className="pure-u-1-1 start-topic-back-button">
                     <p className="no-margin" onClick={this.props.onClick}>
                         <i className="fas fa-arrow-left fa-3x"></i>
@@ -83,6 +107,7 @@ class StartTopic extends Component {
                         [
                         <input key={"topicSubjectInput"}
                             name={"topicSubjectInput"}
+                            className={this.state.topicSubjectInputEmptySubmit && "form-input-required"}
                             type="text"
                             value={this.state.topicSubjectInput}
                             placeholder="Subject"
@@ -90,6 +115,7 @@ class StartTopic extends Component {
                             onChange={this.handleInputChange} />,
                         <textarea key={"topicMessageInput"}
                             name={"topicMessageInput"}
+                            className={this.state.topicMessageInputEmptySubmit && "form-input-required"}
                             value={this.state.topicMessageInput}
                             placeholder="Post"
                             id="topicMessageInput"
@@ -98,7 +124,7 @@ class StartTopic extends Component {
                     <button key="submit"
                         className="pure-button"
                         type="button"
-                        onClick={this.handleSubmit}>
+                        onClick={this.validateAndPost}>
                             Post
                     </button>
                     <button className="pure-button margin-left-small"
@@ -110,6 +136,54 @@ class StartTopic extends Component {
             </div>
         );
     }
+
+    componentWillReceiveProps(){ //Maybe change it with this: https://redux.js.org/api-reference/store#subscribe
+        let currentDrizzleState = this.drizzle.store.getState();
+
+        if(this.state.creatingTopic){
+            if (this.state.transactionState === "ACCEPTANCE_PENDING" && 
+                currentDrizzleState.transactionStack[this.stackId]) {
+    
+                this.txHash = currentDrizzleState.transactionStack[this.stackId];
+                this.transactionProgressText.push(<br/>);
+                this.transactionProgressText.push("Transaction in progress: txHash = " + this.txHash);
+                this.setState({'transactionState': "IN_PROGRESS"});
+            } else if (this.state.transactionState === "IN_PROGRESS") {
+                if (currentDrizzleState.transactions[this.txHash].status === "success"){
+                    this.topicIDFetched = currentDrizzleState.transactions[this.txHash].receipt
+                        .events.TopicCreated.returnValues.topicID;
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push(<br/>);
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push("Transaction completed successfully.");
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push(<br/>);
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push("TopicID = " + this.topicIDFetched);
+                    this.setState({'transactionState': "SUCCESS"});
+                } else if (currentDrizzleState.transactions[this.txHash].status === "error"){
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push(<br/>);
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push("Transaction failed to complete.");
+                    this.setState({'transactionState': "ERROR"});
+                }
+            } else if (this.state.transactionState === "SUCCESS") {
+                this.pushToDatabase();
+                if (this.state.savingToOrbitDB === "SUCCESS"){
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push(<br/>);
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push("Post successfully saved in OrbitDB.");
+                    this.setState({creatingTopic: false});
+                } else if (this.state.savingToOrbitDB === "ERROR"){
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push(<br/>);
+                    this.transactionProgressText.push(<span style={{color: 'red'}}><strong>
+                            An error occurred while trying to save post in OrbitDB.
+                        </strong></span>);
+                    this.setState({creatingTopic: false});
+                }
+            } else if (this.state.transactionState === "ERROR"){
+                this.transactionProgressText.push(<br/>);
+                this.transactionProgressText.push(<span style={{color: 'red'}}><strong>
+                        An error occurred while trying to complete transaction.
+                    </strong></span>);
+                this.setState({creatingTopic: false});
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 StartTopic.contextTypes = {
@@ -118,7 +192,7 @@ StartTopic.contextTypes = {
 
 const mapStateToProps = state => {
     return {
-        contracts: state.contracts,
+        orbitDB: state.orbitDB,
         user: state.user
     }
 };
diff --git a/src/components/Topic.js b/src/components/Topic.js
index dbd942d..acf6193 100644
--- a/src/components/Topic.js
+++ b/src/components/Topic.js
@@ -3,15 +3,27 @@ import TimeAgo from 'react-timeago';
 
 const Topic = (props) => {
         return (
-            <div className="topic card">
-                <p className="topic-subject"><strong>{props.topicSubject}</strong></p>
-                <hr/>
-                <div className="topic-meta">
-                    <p className="no-margin">{props.topicStarter}</p>
-                    <p className="no-margin">Number of replies: {props.numberOfReplies}</p>
-                    <p className="topic-date">Started <TimeAgo date={props.date}/></p>
+            props.topic !== null
+                ? <div className={"topic card"}>
+                    <p className="topic-subject" style={{color: props.topic.topicSubject ? "" : "grey"}}>
+                        <strong>{props.topic.topicSubject ? props.topic.topicSubject : "Subject"}</strong>
+                    </p>
+                    <hr/>
+                    <div className="topic-meta">
+                        <p className="no-margin">{props.topic.topicStarter}</p>
+                        <p className="no-margin">Number of replies: {props.topic.numberOfReplies}</p>
+                        <p className="topic-date">Started <TimeAgo date={props.topic.date}/></p>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+                : <div className={"topic card"} style={{color: 'grey'}}>
+                    <p className="topic-subject"><strong>Subject</strong></p>
+                    <hr/>
+                    <div className="topic-meta">
+                        <p className="no-margin">Username</p>
+                        <p className="no-margin">Number of replies: </p>
+                        <p className="topic-date">Started </p>
+                    </div>
                 </div>
-            </div>
         );
 };
 
diff --git a/src/components/TopicList.js b/src/components/TopicList.js
index a033011..1e6d71d 100644
--- a/src/components/TopicList.js
+++ b/src/components/TopicList.js
@@ -1,50 +1,119 @@
-import React from 'react';
-import Topic from './Topic';
+import { drizzleConnect } from 'drizzle-react';
+import React, { Component } from 'react';
 import { Link } from 'react-router';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
+
+import Topic from './Topic';
+
+const contract = "Forum";
+const contractMethod = "getTopic";
+
+class TopicList extends Component {
+    constructor(props, context) {
+        super(props);
+
+        this.fetchSubject = this.fetchSubject.bind(this);
+        this.correctTimeFormat = this.correctTimeFormat.bind(this);
+
+        this.drizzle = context.drizzle;
+        this.dataKeys = [];
+        this.topicsData = new Array(parseInt(this.props.numberOfTopics, 10)).fill(undefined);
+        this.topicsSubjects = [];
+        this.topicsSubjectsFetched = [];
+
+        for (var i = 0; i < this.props.numberOfTopics; ++i){
+            this.dataKeys[i] = this.drizzle.contracts[contract].methods[contractMethod].cacheCall(i);
+        }
+
+        this.state = {
+        };
+    }
+
+    async fetchSubject(topicID) {
+        /*const fullAddress = this.topicsData[topicID][1];
+        const store = await this.props.orbitDB.orbitdb.keyvalue(JSON.stringify(fullAddress));
+        await store.load();
+        var som = store.get(JSON.stringify(topicID));
+        this.topicsSubjects[topicID] = som['subject'];
+        this.topicsSubjectsFetched[topicID] = true;*/
+
+        var som =this.props.orbitDB.topicsDB.get(JSON.stringify(topicID));
+        this.topicsSubjects[topicID] = som['subject'];
+        this.topicsSubjectsFetched[topicID] = true;
+    }
+
+    correctTimeFormat(timestamp) {
+        var timestampDate = new Date(0);
+        timestampDate.setUTCSeconds(timestamp);
+        return ((timestampDate.getMonth() + 1)  + " "
+            + timestampDate.getDate() + ", "
+            + timestampDate.getFullYear() + ", "
+            + timestampDate.getHours() + ":"
+            + timestampDate.getMinutes() + ":"
+            + timestampDate.getSeconds())
+    }
+
+    render (){
+        const topics = this.topicsData.map((topic, index) => {
+            if (topic){
+                return (
+                    <Link to={"/topic/" + index + "/" + 
+                        ((this.topicsSubjects[index] !== undefined) ? this.topicsSubjects[index] : "")}
+                        key={index}>
+                        <Topic topic={{
+                                    topicSubject: ((this.topicsSubjects[index] !== undefined) && this.topicsSubjects[index]),
+                                    topicStarter: topic[2],
+                                    numberOfReplies: topic[4].length,
+                                    date: this.correctTimeFormat(topic[3])
+                                }}
+                            id={index}
+                            key={index}
+                            address={topic[1]}/>
+                    </Link>
+                );
+            } else {
+                return (
+                    <Link to={"/topic/" + index + "/"}
+                        key={index}>
+                        <Topic topic={null}
+                            id={index}
+                            key={index}/>
+                    </Link>
+                );
+            }
+        });
+
+        return (
+            <div className="topics-list">
+                {topics}
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+
+    componentWillReceiveProps() {
+        for (var i = 0; i < this.props.numberOfTopics; ++i){
+            if (this.topicsData[i] === undefined) {
+                let currentDrizzleState = this.drizzle.store.getState();
+                let dataFetched = (currentDrizzleState.contracts[contract][contractMethod])[this.dataKeys[i]];
+                if (dataFetched){
+                    this.topicsData[i] = dataFetched.value;
+                }
+            } else if (!this.topicsSubjects[i] && !this.topicsSubjectsFetched[i]) {
+                this.fetchSubject(i);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+TopicList.contextTypes = {
+    drizzle: PropTypes.object
+};
 
-const topics1 = [
-    {topicSubject: 'This is a topic about something 1',
-     topicStarter: 'username1',
-     numberOfReplies: 12,
-     date: 'May 20, 2018, 10:10:10',
-     id: 1,
-     address: 0x5fe3062B24033113fbf52b2b75882890D7d8CA54
-    },
-    {topicSubject: 'This is a topic about something 2',
-     topicStarter: 'username2',
-     numberOfReplies: 41,
-     date: 'May 20, 2018, 10:10:10',
-     id: 2,
-     address: 0x083c41ea13af6c2d5aaddf6e73142eb9a7b00183
-    },
-    {topicSubject: 'This is a topic about something 3',
-     topicStarter: 'username3',
-     numberOfReplies: 73,
-     date: 'May 20, 2018, 10:10:10',
-     id: 3,
-     address: 0x26d1ec50b4e62c1d1a40d16e7cacc6a6580757d5
+const mapStateToProps = state => {
+    return {
+        user: state.user, //Needed!!
+        orbitDB: state.orbitDB,
     }
-];
-
-const TopicList = (props) => {
-    const topics = topics1.map((topic) =>
-        <Link to={"/topic/" + topic.id + "/" + topic.topicSubject}
-            key={topic.id}>
-                <Topic topicSubject={topic.topicSubject}
-                topicStarter={topic.topicStarter}
-                numberOfReplies={topic.numberOfReplies}
-                date={topic.date}
-                id={topic.id}
-                key={topic.id}
-                address={topic.address}/>
-        </Link>
-    );
-
-    return (
-        <div className="topics-list">
-            {topics}
-        </div>
-    );
 };
 
-export default TopicList;
\ No newline at end of file
+export default drizzleConnect(TopicList, mapStateToProps);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/containers/BoardContainer.js b/src/containers/BoardContainer.js
index 68b78ac..bad1b1f 100644
--- a/src/containers/BoardContainer.js
+++ b/src/containers/BoardContainer.js
@@ -1,48 +1,83 @@
 import { drizzleConnect } from 'drizzle-react';
 import React, { Component } from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
+
 import TopicList from '../components/TopicList';
 import FloatingButton from '../components/FloatingButton';
 import StartTopic from '../components/StartTopic';
 
+const contract = "Forum";
+const contractMethod = "getNumberOfTopics";
+
 class Board extends Component {
-    constructor(props) {
+    constructor(props, context) {
         super(props);
-        this.state = {
-            startingNewTopic: false
-        };
 
         this.handleClick = this.handleClick.bind(this);
+
+        this.drizzle = context.drizzle;
+        this.dataKey = this.drizzle.contracts[contract].methods[contractMethod].cacheCall();
+
+        this.state = {
+            startingNewTopic: false,
+            transactionState: "IN_PROGRESS"
+        };
     }
 
     handleClick(event) {
-         event.preventDefault();
+        event.preventDefault();
         this.setState(prevState => ({
           startingNewTopic: !prevState.startingNewTopic
         }));
     }
 
     render() {
+        var boardContents;
+        if (this.state.transactionState === "IN_PROGRESS") {
+            boardContents = (
+                <div className="center-in-parent">
+                    <p>
+                        <i className="fas fa-spinner fa-3x fa-spin"></i>
+                    </p>
+                </div>
+            );
+        } else {
+            boardContents = <TopicList numberOfTopics={this.numberOfTopics}/>;
+        }
+
         return (
             this.state.startingNewTopic
             ?(<div>
                 <StartTopic onClick={this.handleClick}/>
             </div>)
             :(<div style={{marginBottom: '100px'}}>
-                <TopicList/>
+                {boardContents}
                 <FloatingButton onClick={this.handleClick}/>
             </div>)
         );
     }
+
+    componentWillReceiveProps() {
+        if (!this.numberOfTopics) {
+            let currentDrizzleState = this.drizzle.store.getState()
+            let dataFetched = (currentDrizzleState.contracts[contract][contractMethod])[this.dataKey];
+            if (dataFetched){
+                this.numberOfTopics = dataFetched.value
+                this.setState({'transactionState': "SUCCESS"});
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
+Board.contextTypes = {
+    drizzle: PropTypes.object
+};
+
 const mapStateToProps = state => {
-  return {
-    accounts: state.accounts,
-    Forum: state.contracts.Forum,
-    user: state.user,
-    orbitDB: state.orbitDB,
-    drizzleStatus: state.drizzleStatus
-  }
+    return {
+        user: state.user,
+        orbitDB: state.orbitDB,
+    }
 };
 
 const BoardContainer = drizzleConnect(Board, mapStateToProps);
diff --git a/src/util/drizzleOptions.js b/src/util/drizzleOptions.js
index 5a741d0..5d013e5 100644
--- a/src/util/drizzleOptions.js
+++ b/src/util/drizzleOptions.js
@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ const drizzleOptions = {
         Forum
     ],
     events: {
-        Forum: ['UserSignedUp', 'UsernameUpdated']
+        Forum: ['UserSignedUp',
+            'UsernameUpdated',
+            'TopicCreated',
+            'PostCreated',
+            'NumberOfTopicsReceived',
+            'TopicReceived']
     },
     polls: {
         accounts: 3000,
diff --git a/src/util/orbit.js b/src/util/orbit.js
index e88410b..578ab60 100644
--- a/src/util/orbit.js
+++ b/src/util/orbit.js
@@ -11,11 +11,29 @@ import store from './../redux/store';
 const ipfsOptions = {
     EXPERIMENTAL: {
         pubsub: true
+    }, config: {
+        Addresses: {
+            Swarm: []
+        }
     },
 };
 
+/*,
+    config: {
+        Addresses: {
+            Swarm: [
+                // Use IPFS dev signal server
+                // '/dns4/star-signal.cloud.ipfs.team/wss/p2p-webrtc-star',
+                '/dns4/ws-star.discovery.libp2p.io/tcp/443/wss/p2p-websocket-star',
+                // Use local signal server
+                // '/ip4/0.0.0.0/tcp/9090/wss/p2p-webrtc-star',
+            ]
+        }
+    }*/
+
 // Create IPFS instance
 const ipfs = new IPFS(ipfsOptions);
+let orbitdb, topicsDB, postsDB;
 
 ipfs.on('ready', async () => {
     store.dispatch({type: "IPFS_INITIALIZED"});
@@ -23,26 +41,41 @@ ipfs.on('ready', async () => {
 
 
 async function createDatabases() {
-    const orbitdb = new OrbitDB(ipfs);
-    const topicsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('topics');
-    const postsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('posts');
-    store.dispatch({type: "DATABASES_CREATED", id: orbitdb.id});
+    orbitdb = new OrbitDB(ipfs);
+    topicsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('topics');
+    postsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('posts');
+    store.dispatch({
+        type: "DATABASES_CREATED",
+        orbitdb: orbitdb,
+        topicsDB: topicsDB,
+        postsDB: postsDB,
+        id: orbitdb.id
+    });
     return {id: orbitdb.id, topicsDB: topicsDB.address.root, postsDB: postsDB.address.root,
         publicKey: orbitdb.key.getPublic('hex'), privateKey:orbitdb.key.getPrivate('hex')};
 }
 
-async function loadDatabases(id,topicsDB, postsDB,publicKey,privateKey) {   //TODO: does this work? does IPFS need reinitializng?
+async function loadDatabases(id,mTopicsDB, mPostsDB,publicKey,privateKey) {
     let directory = "./orbitdb";
     let keystore = Keystore.create(path.join(directory, id, '/keystore'));
     keystore._storage.setItem(id, JSON.stringify({
         publicKey: publicKey,
         privateKey: privateKey
     }));
-    const orbitdb = new OrbitDB(ipfs,directory,{peerId:id, keystore:keystore});
-    await orbitdb.keyvalue('/orbitdb/' + topicsDB +'/topics');
-    await orbitdb.keyvalue('/orbitdb/' + postsDB +'/posts');
-    //todo: loadedDBs.load() (?)
-    store.dispatch({type: "DATABASES_LOADED", id: orbitdb.id});
+    orbitdb = new OrbitDB(ipfs,directory,{peerId:id, keystore:keystore});
+    topicsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('/orbitdb/' + mTopicsDB +'/topics');
+    postsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('/orbitdb/' + mPostsDB +'/posts');
+
+    topicsDB.load();
+    postsDB.load();
+
+    store.dispatch({
+        type: "DATABASES_LOADED",
+        orbitdb: orbitdb,
+        topicsDB: topicsDB,
+        postsDB: postsDB,
+        id: orbitdb.id
+    });
 }
 
 export { createDatabases, loadDatabases };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/util/orbitReducer.js b/src/util/orbitReducer.js
index d7d7314..5bd3583 100644
--- a/src/util/orbitReducer.js
+++ b/src/util/orbitReducer.js
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 const initialState = {
     ipfsInitialized: false,
     ready: false,
+    orbitdb: null,
+    topicsDB: null,
+    postsDB: null,
     id: null
 };
 
@@ -15,18 +18,27 @@ const orbitReducer = (state = initialState, action) => {
             return {
                 ...state,
                 ready: true,
+                orbitdb: action.orbitdb,
+                topicsDB: action.topicsDB,
+                postsDB: action.postsDB,
                 id: action.id
             };
         case 'DATABASES_LOADED':
             return {
                 ...state,
                 ready: true,
+                orbitdb: action.orbitdb,
+                topicsDB: action.topicsDB,
+                postsDB: action.postsDB,
                 id: action.id
             };
         case 'DATABASES_NOT_READY':
             return {
                 ...state,
                 ready: false,
+                orbitdb: null,
+                topicsDB: null,
+                postsDB: null,
                 id: null
             };
         default: