Scientists find gut bacteria in superworms that breaks down plastic
Polystyrene is a type of plastic that’s used to make a variety of ubiquitous products like packaging containers, disposable cups, and insulating materials. The problem, of course, lies in the fact that when thrown in landfills or littered in the environment, the plastic takes several hundred Read More...
Newark’s peaceful protests offer hope and an example of strong leadership
This past weekend our Emissaries received our Optimist View: Why civil disobedience and ahimsa (nonviolence) triumph in the face of injustice. After sharing some of the philosophies and leaders of nonviolent activism, today we focus on Newark, a city that is serving as a nonviolent beacon of hope Read More...
Why vitamin D is so important for our health
We’ve all heard that vitamin D comes from the sun and is critical to our health, but how much vitamin D should you be getting and what exactly does it do to your body? Today we dive deeper into this vitamin and why it is so important for your health. Vitamin D is actually both a vitamin and Read More...
Public parks are showing their worth amid protests and the pandemic
During this extraordinary time in America’s cities — weeks of coronavirus lockdowns followed by mass protests against police violence and racial inequality — one theme runs through the twinned crises: the power and value of public spaces. The nation’s parks experienced a surge of use during Read More...
June 9, 2020
Defunding the the police as a solution for change: The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update featuring discussions of our top positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Today we share a clip from Kristy's interview with Read More...
June 9, 2020
Defunding the the police as a solution for change: The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update featuring discussions of our top positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Today we share a clip from Kristy's interview with Read More...
June 9, 2020
Defunding the the police as a solution for change: The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update featuring discussions of our top positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Today we share a clip from Kristy's interview with Read More...
June 9, 2020
Defunding the the police as a solution for change: The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update featuring discussions of our top positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Today we share a clip from Kristy's interview with Read More...
This app allows urban tree lovers to connect with their natural surroundings
As the lockdown in London has freed its neighborhoods of traffic, pollution, and noise, many people have started paying more attention to the greenery that embellishes their streets. This has been especially reflected in the fiftyfold increase in visitors to an online mapping tool featuring the Read More...
Autonomous underwater vehicles have changed ocean exploration forever
In just the last couple of years, we’ve been discovering more about the deep seas than ever before—and much of this is thanks to the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). An AUV is essentially an underwater drone. Able to perform its tasks without being tethered to the surface or needing a Read More...