Today’s Solutions: February 26, 2026

Handlers are training dogs to

Handlers are training dogs to sniff out COVID-19

Dogs have been trained to sniff out malaria, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. A couple months ago, we shared a story about how dogs are even used to detect parasites in orange trees. Now, handlers hope to train dogs to smell COVID-19.  Medical Detection Dogs, a charity based in the UK, is Read More...

This portable charger is made

This portable charger is made from repurposed batteries and recycled plastic

Flexible plastics such as plastic bags, bubble wrap and pallet wrap are typically turned away from recycling facilities because of their supposedly low commercial value. Each year, the world produces 150 billion kilos of such non-recyclable plastic, all of which are most likely to end up in Read More...

April, 17 2020

April, 17 2020

The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update from The Optimist Daily featuring our top 5 positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Listen in to start your day with a positive solutions mindset and share with someone else who Read More...

April, 17 2020

April, 17 2020

The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update from The Optimist Daily featuring our top 5 positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Listen in to start your day with a positive solutions mindset and share with someone else who Read More...

April, 17 2020

April, 17 2020

The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update from The Optimist Daily featuring our top 5 positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Listen in to start your day with a positive solutions mindset and share with someone else who Read More...

April, 17 2020

April, 17 2020

The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update from The Optimist Daily featuring our top 5 positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Listen in to start your day with a positive solutions mindset and share with someone else who Read More...

Retreating ice in Norway has r

Retreating ice in Norway has revealed treasure troves of Viking artifacts

At the Optimist Daily, we’re deeply concerned with global heating and its melting effect on Arctic glaciers. But as a publication that is always willing to see the silver lining in any situation, it’s been fascinating to see what archaeologists discover as the ice retreats. Recently in Read More...

WiFi buses in Austin are provi

WiFi buses in Austin are providing internet access to students in need

As schools across the country shut their doors indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, millions of students are now adjusting to online learning. But for low-income families who may not have access to WiFi, this transition is a problem. To help students access the internet, the Austin Read More...

What neuroscience can teach us

What neuroscience can teach us about lowering anxiety

If coronavirus has disrupted your usual daily rhythm and kept you indoors, it’s totally understandable if you’ve been feeling a bit more anxious lately. The good news though is that neuroscience can offer some non-pharmaceutical, research-backed ways to mitigate anxiety. Let’s see what the Read More...

Iceland recommends this natura

Iceland recommends this natural remedy to help with social isolation

Given that humans are by nature social animals, in a time when close contact and embracing are discouraged to slow the spread of the virus, such preventive measures can take a toll on many people’s wellbeing. But since we don’t know exactly for how long physical distancing will keep loved Read More...