Scientists make earthquake-proof concrete without energy-intensive cement
Concrete is the world’s most widely-used building material thanks to its incredible strength – but it doesn’t stand up well against bending. Now, researchers at Swinburne University have developed a new type of concrete that can not only bend better, but doesn’t require cement to make, Read More...
Fruit waste shows great potential as energy-storage technology
Biowaste has been used for energy production for some time already (see this story about using coffee grounds in your tank!), but tapping into its potential for energy storage is quite a recent phenomenon. Particularly, two unusual tropical fruits have been standing out as attractive candidates to Read More...
A rare video of a sloth giving birth has scientists thrilled. Here’s why
When Steven Vela, a tour guide in Costa Rica, spotted a brown-throated sloth up in a tree near La Fortuna, he had no idea the animal was in the late stages of labor—or of the drama that would unfold next. With the camera rolling, the sloth gives birth to its baby, but seconds later the baby Read More...
This bio-film could revolutionize immunization campaigns around the globe
While vaccination rates across the world have been on the rise over the past decade, they are still low — 13.5 million children were not vaccinated in 2018. One of the main challenges posed by global immunization campaigns is keeping the vaccines refrigerated during transportation, which is Read More...
How the ski world is addressing the problem of harmful wax chemicals
The wax applied to the bottom of skis helps them glide smoothly across the snow, but it also has a heavy environmental footprint. The wax contains perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, or 'fluoro' in the ski world, which are harmful to ecosystems and human Read More...
McDonald’s and Starbucks are getting on the reusable cups wagon
Starbuck’s and McDonald’s blow through billions of disposable cups a year, feeding them into a never-ending stream of plastic waste. But in the future, when you order a coffee from them, it could be served in the same cup you used a few months ago. That’s the vision behind the NextGen Cup Read More...
Big companies are using tech tools to improve employee sleep habits
We at the Optimist Daily are big advocates of the power of sleep. These days, it also seems more big companies are hopping on board and promoting better sleep habits to boost productivity and beat burnout. And they’re turning to technology to help them do so. The athletic company, New Balance, Read More...
VR digital instructor could help improve physiotherapy at home
Currently prescribed physiotherapy often requires patients to complete regular exercises at home. But outside of the clinic patients rarely receive any guidance, often leading to poor adherence, with patients becoming anxious about not doing the exercises correctly or simply getting bored. A new Read More...
Researchers in Michigan are using lasers to better detect concussions
The process of detecting a concussion feels more like a field sobriety check rather than a proper medical exam. What day is it? Where are you? Who is the president? Can you count backward from 100 by sevens? These are the type of questions that are supposed to determine whether you have a Read More...
Taco Bell launches new 50 item “Veggie Mode” menu
Taco Bell has always been a fan of plant-based classics. It featured a vegetarian menu long before alternative meats hit the fast-food market. Now, the chain is expanding its meat-free options with its new "Veggie Mode," a 50-item, all-vegetarian menu. The menu will be available at all Taco Read More...