Methane-loving microbes may help reduce emissions from melting permafrost
As the climate warms up, polar ice and glaciers aren’t the only things at risk melting. Permafrost — the frozen layer of soil that underlies the Arctic tundra — is beginning to thaw as well, with scientists concerned that this will release huge amounts of greenhouse gases stored there. But Read More...
Designers to convert shipping containers into Intensive Care Units
Containers may have revolutionized the shipping industry but, lately, it seems that their efficiency is finding its use beyond freight transportation and towards ingenious healthcare units. Two days ago we wrote about a company that is using shipping containers as decontamination rooms to sanitize Read More...
6 ways to make the most out of social distancing
You are socialized by your caretakers from the day you are born, but what you start to learn is that your external world holds the cues on how you need to be. You take on patterns of behaviors, thoughts, and actions from others to navigate the world. You form a connection through contact, share Read More...
The Mexican gray wolf population in the US rose sharply in 2019
Exciting news from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In a recent census, researchers discovered that the US population of endangered Mexican gray wolves jumped by 24 percent last year. That’s especially exciting for conservationists who haven’t seen a leap in numbers that high since 2014. The Read More...
“Living drug factories” produce insulin from inside the body
For type 1 diabetics, regular injections of insulin are an unfortunate reality of life, necessary to keep their blood sugar levels in check in lieu of a healthy pancreas. Scientists at MIT have developed a new type of implantable cell that could handle the heavy lifting by overcoming rejection by Read More...
Here are some easy recipes for making your own hand sanitizer
By now you must surely be aware that washing your hands clean is necessary to keep you and others protected during the pandemic. You’ve also probably gone through a bottle or two of Purell, and feel a bit tired of buying more expensive hand sanitizers. The good news is you can make your own hand Read More...
An astronaut’s guide to surviving isolation
If you’re struggling to remain positive while social distancing, consider watching a space film to put your quarantine in perspective. All jokes aside, many astronauts are used to spending extended periods of time in isolation, sometimes up to a year. A few astronauts have weighed in on Read More...
Thunberg says COVID-19 demonstrates power of large-scale collective action
COVID-19 has quickly shut down global schools, travel, and production. Its effect on society is nearly unprecedented. Climate activist Greta Thunberg remarks that while the global event is catastrophic, it does demonstrate the human ability to act fast in the face of a crisis Thunberg, who Read More...
Self-isolation has been a surprising boost for citizen science
The Rainfall Rescue Project was launched in the UK just last week to help scientists understand past rainfall variations—and a big part of doing that requires digitizing old written records. In what can be considered a little silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists have been amazed Read More...
March 31, 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...