Korean student creates colorful stools out of used face masks
One of the most unfortunate side-effects of the coronavirus pandemic is the massive amount of waste coming from disposable face masks. According to one estimate, the world goes through 129 billion single-use face masks each month during the pandemic. In an attempt to turn this ecological disaster Read More...
Do you have unused frequent flier miles? Here's where to donate them
If you’re looking for more ways to give back this year, your frequent flier miles could be a surprisingly good place to start. If your miles are piling up without this year’s usual travel, you can donate them to someone in need with just the click of a button. Here are some of the ways to put Read More...
This bike wheel filters and purifies outdoor air while you cycle
Wouldn’t it be great if you could help improve the air quality in your city just by cycling on its streets? Soon you might actually be able to do that thanks to a brilliant invention called Rolloe. Created by Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) 2020 award winner Kristen Tapping, Rolloe is an Read More...
New 3D printing technique is more efficient and less wasteful
Traditional 3D printing begins at the bottom of an object and steadily adds layers, but a team of researchers from Penn State has come up with an innovative new way to print objects that is more efficient and faster than previous methods. Called five-axis additive 3D-printing, the new method Read More...
Massachusetts to require all car sales to be electric by 2035
Back in September, we shared a story about California’s commendable decision to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Now, following in the footsteps of the Golden State, Massachusetts says it will do the same in a bid to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The move is part of the Read More...
The beauty of compassion: How to make the world a kinder place
“It is true that when we harm others, we harm ourselves; but it is just as true that when we help others, we also help ourselves.” - Desmond Tutu It has been a tough time to be an Optimist. The events in Washington DC this week come after a year that featured a global pandemic, economic Read More...
Why boosting brain health should really be your New Year’s resolution
When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, oftentimes people believe they will be happier if they changed the way their body looks through weight loss or muscle-building. This might actually be the case in some instances, but the reality is that changing the way you look is by no means a guarantee Read More...
Modified psychedelic drug could offer mental health relief without the side effects
Research into the use of psychedelic drugs for long term anxiety, depression, and PTSD relief is one of the fastest-growing fields in mental health research. Now, researchers at the University of California, Davis, are seeing if they can narrow down these benefits into more widely available Read More...
January 6, 2021
We're swimming into some environmental stories today with the potential reintroduction of otters to the San Francisco Bay and how giant crabs are saving coral populations. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
January 6, 2021
We're swimming into some environmental stories today with the potential reintroduction of otters to the San Francisco Bay and how giant crabs are saving coral populations. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...