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 … [Read more...] about Missing being touched? This phone turns speech into physical sensations
Archives for May 2020
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 … [Read more...] about How math is helping find people lost at sea
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 … [Read more...] about How to set boundaries that actually work
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 … [Read more...] about Australian wildlife park celebrates first koala birth since bushfires
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. … [Read more...] about Engineers create UV-light machine that decontaminates 600 N95 masks an hour