Missing being touched? This phone turns speech into physical sensations
One thing a phone or video call can’t make up for is the physical feeling of touch that comes with being close to someone. In an experimental attempt to bring physical sensations into phone calls, two students at the Royal College of Art in London have designed a pair of devices that translate Read More...
How math is helping find people lost at sea
Finding people lost at sea is an incredibly difficult task. The uncertain nature of tides and winds combined with dangerous exposure to elements means that the chances of rescuing people after six hours are very slim. Fortunately, a team of international researchers is using math to understand more Read More...
How to set boundaries that actually work
At a time when our homes are serving as our offices, gyms, and places of rest, creating boundaries can be very difficult. Various aspects of our lives have become intertwined and muddied. On our Optimist Daily Update, our team leaders Kristy Jansen and Summers McKay often discuss the difficulties Read More...
Australian wildlife park celebrates first koala birth since bushfires
The wildfires in Australia took a devastating toll on native wildlife, specifically koalas. In a sign of hope for the future of these species, the Australian Reptile Park has reported the first birth of a baby koala, also called a joey, since the fires in early 2020. The park made the Read More...
Engineers create UV-light machine that decontaminates 600 N95 masks an hour
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Optimist Daily has been dedicated to sharing solutions and the stories of human ingenuity behind them. Most recently, we wrote about an all-girl robotics team in Afghanistan that is working quickly to make ventilators using old car parts. Today, we bring you a Read More...
How drones rose up to the occasion during the coronavirus pandemic
It feels like drones were built for this moment. The coronavirus pandemic has forced everyone to spend the majority of their time indoors and, where possible, maintain a healthy distance from anyone that doesn’t live in the same building. Companies have introduced numerous measures to minimize Read More...
Here are America’s 10 best sustainable buildings of 2020
Buildings generate nearly 40% of the world’s CO2 emissions—and since two-thirds of the buildings that exist today will still be around by the middle of the century, architects need to rethink their design now to have a chance of meeting goals for a net-zero economy. The industry is shifting, Read More...
This natural coating makes produce last twice as long
It can be extremely frustrating to reach into the fridge for an avocado or handful of strawberries and find your produce pals have gone to mush. In addition to your personal disappointment and the toll on your wallet, food waste is responsible for eight percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Read More...
May 28, 2020
The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update from The Optimist Daily featuring our top 5 positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Listen in to start your day with a positive solutions mindset and share with someone else who Read More...
May 28, 2020
The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update from The Optimist Daily featuring our top 5 positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Listen in to start your day with a positive solutions mindset and share with someone else who Read More...