To avoid crowds, Montreal's circus festival will pop up in random places
Over the course of this week, some lucky residents in Montreal will be entertained with surprise circus acts that will pop up around the city at undisclosed locations. The outdoor performances are organized as part of Montreal’s annual circus festival and are taking place from July 6 to 12 at Read More...
How groups of gleaners are bridging the gap between farms and the food insecure
Whether it was stopping on the side of the road to pick wild plums or gathering apples from a neighborhood tree, most of us have gleaned at least once in our lives. Now, this practice of gathering leftover produce throughout the community is finding new purpose as a source of food for those in need Read More...
This study finds microdosing THC can reduce chronic pain
While CBD is the ingredient in cannabis that gets praise for its healing capabilities, a new study shows THC can also be effective in treating pain. The study, which was published in the European Journal of Pain, is the first clinical trial that investigated the efficacy of microdosing THC to treat Read More...
This summer berry has skin-soothing properties
If you’ve seen black raspberries at the farmer’s market, you probably thought they were just blackberries. This self-disguising fruit is a variant of the original red raspberry and new research shows it could help beat summer skin allergies. Black raspberries have been long studied for their Read More...
Scientists create robotic fabric that could lead to therapeutic wearables.
A team at Harvard is creating therapeutic wearables using robotic fabrics. While robotic fabrics are far from new, they’re usually attached to bulky external machines that can modulate air pressure inside them to make them move or change their shape. Since that could limit their potential Read More...
Throwing food waste in the trash is now illegal in Vermont
Vermont has long been praised as one of the greenest states in the US, and rightfully so. In 2019, the Green Mountain State passed into law the most comprehensive ban on single-use plastics in the US, setting a commendable standard for other states to follow. In 2020 a bid to further their Read More...
Sephora pledges 15 percent of shelf space to Black-owned brands
Aurora James, the founder of sustainable accessories brand Brother Vellies, has called on large retailers to take the 15 Percent Pledge to counteract racial disparities in big business and cosmetics brand Sephora is the first to endorse and commit to this pledge. In June, Sephora agreed to Read More...
Petition website Change.org to dedicate $6 million to racial justice
Change.org is a petition website that has been hugely instrumental for getting online communities to rally together in order to amplify a particular message or demand. The two biggest petitions ever seen on the website call for justice for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, two names we should all Read More...
Scientists team up with trained dolphins to create data-collecting drone
Over the last decades, whale and dolphin populations around the world have dwindled significantly as a result of human activities. And while conservationists are working hard to help these animals recover, collecting data about their health in a non-invasive way can be extremely difficult. To Read More...
July 6, 2020
The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday update from The Optimist Daily featuring discussions of our top positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Today we discuss a startup giving renters more equity, why recycled jewelry is just as Read More...