European investment managers unite in push for net-zero carbon economy
The European Union aims to achieve an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. And as it becomes ever more prominent that reaching this target would require a tremendous collective effort, different layers of society are increasingly stepping forward to do their part. More recently, Read More...
Pineapple leaves can help extend the lifespan of fresh fruit and vegetables
Every year, the world wastes about one-third of all food produced for human consumption, a great amount of which results from inadequate storage and processing facilities for post-harvest produce. Developing technologies that help keep food fresh for longer is one of the most effective ways to save Read More...
Drone exploration discovers large Native American settlement from 1600s
The bird’s eye view from drones gives us a unique perspective on our world. A drone flying over a cattle ranch in Kansas recently made a surprising discovery: the remnants of a large indigenous community built by ancestors of today’s Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. The drone spotted the Read More...
Parental advice: How to help your kids succeed at distance learning
How do you set up your child for academic success in the age of distance learning? It is a question many parents are asking themselves these days, and one that sociologist Christine Carter recently received from one of her anonymous readers. To help kids work faster, concentrate longer, and Read More...
Why passenger planes may soon fly in formation just like birds
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Soon, it may be hard to tell, as giant aerospace company Airbus has recently come up with a method to save jet fuel that involves having airplanes fly in formation, just like a flock of migrating geese. Inspired by the flight technique of migrating birds, researchers Read More...
Monitoring brainwaves during sleep can pinpoint best antidepressant
One major problem with antidepressants is that patients have to take the drug for at least a month to know whether or not it works. But that could soon change after researchers found a quicker, more effective way to gauge the effectiveness of an antidepressant: monitoring a patient’s brainwaves Read More...
A look inside the race to create functional artificial blood
Someone in the US needs a blood transfusion, alluding to the importance of blood supplies to modern healthcare. The problem is blood is in incredibly short supply, and the pandemic has only made things worse due to the forced cancellation of many collection drives. That’s why there has been a Read More...
Letters from kids inspires LEGO to phase out plastic packaging
Back in August, we wrote about LEGO’s groundbreaking braille bricks, which were designed to help people who are blind or visually impaired become familiar with the braille alphabet. Today, we have more good news from LEGO. The Danish toymaker announced plans to ditch plastic packaging for its Read More...
You can take these 11 popular Yale courses online for free
Back in March, we shared how you can now take Yale’s most popular class, “Psychology and the Good Life,” online. Now, we are happy to share 11 additional top courses you can take for free online from the top-ranked university. The university offers a wide variety of courses through its Read More...
September 16, 2020
Michigan is funding free college education for its essential workers and a study from Tufts has found that over 300 metropolitan areas in the US could grow all their food locally. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...