Delivering bad news is hard. Here’s how to get better at it
At one point in your life, you will find yourself in a role where you must deliver bad news. For some of us—such as the doctors or managers out there—this role might be played on a regular basis. And while it’s a part of life, that doesn’t make it any easier to be the messenger with bad Read More...
Central Europe to become a frontrunner in reducing plastic waste
The town of Bled in Slovenia is known for its beautiful lake, picturesque scenery, and cream cakes. But more recently it has also become a flag bearer of good recycling practices in Central Europe, with many tourist spots in the resort town prioritizing sustainable packaging. For much of its Read More...
African elephant trails can help shape better conservation plans
When African elephants travel from one destination to another, they typically create highly complex routes on their way, shaping the landscape and thus the fabric and way of life of many local communities. Understanding how these massive creatures affect the dynamics of local life may lead the way Read More...
Australia is minting coins that are designed to be given away
Australia has created a coin unlike any other in the world. It is a new Australian $1 coin that can be spent like any other money but is intended to be given away to people in need. With an image of Queen Elizabeth II on one side of the coin, the other side is stamped with the message: “Donation Read More...
Honeybee venom can kill aggressive breast cancer cells
Honeybees hold the key to our agricultural systems, but it turns out they may also have other amazing healing powers. A study from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research shows honeybee venom could treat triple-negative breast cancer, a type that currently has limited treatment Read More...
For severe Covid patients, cheap steroids can be a lifesaver
While researchers scramble to find a cure for Covid-19, it’s also important we have ways to treat patients that are already severely ill from the virus. Recently, new studies have found that cheap steroids can actually be life-saving for Covid patients in intensive care. The new Read More...
Thought Leader Series: Post-pandemic travel needs to be regenerative
Tourism has been decimated by the pandemic, but when travel returns, what will it look like? This week’s Thought Leader Series from The New York Times, shared with us by an Emissary, looks at the concept of regenerative travel and how we can take sustainable vacations one step Read More...
These "nanotweezers" can pick up an individual molecule
Most likely you’ve used tweezers to take out a tough splinter. Now, engineers are taking the humble tweezer to a whole new level with tweezers so small and precise they can grab individual molecules. It may sound impossible, but the newly developed “nanotweezers”, built by engineers at Read More...
Novel energy-efficient device could convert body heat into electricity
Wouldn’t be great if we could use our body’s heat to charge electronic devices such as fitness gadgets or even phones? Well, thanks to scientists in Russia, we are now closer to turning such an idea into reality. A team of researchers from the National University of Science and Technology in Read More...
September 3, 2020
Today we feature an innovative company turning abandoned hotels into affordable housing and the essential role that sanitation workers and waste sorters play in the transition to a circular economy. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...