Volunteers saved thousands of baby flamingos in drought-stricken South Africa
Years of severe drought brought the capital of South Africa dangerously close to becoming the first major city in the modern era to face the threat of running out of water, and while such a scenario was fortunately averted, the drought did cause a reservoir that hosts one of southern Africa's Read More...
Moonstruck - A Reflection on Audacious Goals
Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse - credit Justin Foley by Kristy Jansen On January 20, 2019, the total lunar eclipse and resulting blood moon captivated millions in the western hemisphere. My husband and I took our dog to an open space near our house to watch it. Staring up at the night sky and Read More...
This teenager built himself a fully functional robotic arm using Legos
To be resourceful is to be able to use the tools and resources at hand to overcome difficult problems. David Aguilar, a 19 year-old bioengineering of Barcelona, is the embodiment of a resourceful person. Born without a right forearm due to a rare genetic condition, Aguilar built himself a fully Read More...
These engineers are making bricks out of your poop
The waste from your own body that you flush down the toilet goes through an extensive journey long after you’ve left the bathroom. From the toilet it descends through a series of pipes before it winds up at a waste water treatment center where it’s extracted from the water and decontaminated, Read More...
Study: Deleting your Facebook profile can boost your mental health
Facebook has been around for over a decade, meaning for many of us, it’s become intertwined with our daily lives. But is that really a good thing? According to a new study, which is being hailed as the most trustworthy scientific assessment of social media’s effects, it may not be. The study Read More...
Finally, politicians are taking climate science seriously on Capitol Hill
Climate science was on the agenda on Capitol Hill this week…for the first time in 10 years. OK, we acknowledge that climate science’s 10-year hiatus from the political agenda is simply ridiculous considering the very real presence of climate change these days, but at the very least we can be Read More...
A step-by-step guide for how to ask your boss for a raise
The idea of asking your boss for a raise can be nerve-wracking. Even if you think you deserve a bit extra for all the hard work you do, perhaps you put it off for months or even years because you’re worried your boss will look at you different, or worse, look to replace you with someone cheaper. Read More...
The Green New Deal sounds great, but what is it actually?
While the Green New Deal resolution has been floating around in the media for the past week or two, the actual details of the deal have been obscure at best. Now a leaked copy has emerged online, and the contents reveal a plan that could thread the needle between a number of serious problems, from Read More...
What science tells us is the best way to recover after a sports session
In the world of sports, it seems like everyone has a different opinion for how to best recover after a long fitness session. Many athletes swear that ice baths are best, others recommend hopping into the sauna, and some even say drinking chocolate milk is the golden ticket to a good recovery. With Read More...
Treat yourself to a visual feast of birds with these stunning photos
At the Optimist Daily, we’re constantly delivering stories for you to read. But every now and again, there’s something wonderful to be gained by simply taking in the stunning beauty of our world and the animals that inhabit it. If you follow the link below, you will be treated to a visual feast Read More...