Breaking down the real meaning of “biodegradable” and “compostable”
“Biodegradable” and “compostable” are terms that pop up frequently in our search to make our day to day purchases more sustainable, but what do they actually mean and what is the difference between the two? That’s exactly the question we’re tackling today. Let’s start with Read More...
The story behind the first successful double hand and face transplant
Car crash survivor Joe DiMeo knew the risks he was facing when he decided to go through with a double hand and face transplant surgery at NYU Langone Health. The two previous times such a complicated procedure had ended in failure, but for DiMeo, the surgery was worth the risk if it meant that he Read More...
Sneaking grapes into your diet may help protect your skin from UV damage
If grapes are among your staple snacks, then we have good news for you! According to a recent study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, eating these delicious fruits can help protect your skin against damage from ultraviolet light (UV). The findings show that eating around two cups of Read More...
This New Yorker built a new vaccine appointment website with less than $50
When New York City began distributing Covid-19 vaccines, senior residents eagerly started trying to make appointments to receive one. Unfortunately, the registration websites were glitchy and confusing, especially for older citizens with limited tech skills. Even Huge Ma, a 31-year-old software Read More...
Why you should enjoy more “tiny” plant-based foods
When it comes to diet, we tend to focus solely on the types of foods we eat, but if you ask functional nutritionist Deanna Minich, Ph.D., she will tell you the size of your food is also very important. In a recent podcast for mindbodygreen, Minich explained that smaller plant-based foods can Read More...
Cultivating school gardens encourages children to eat more vegetables
Many of our eating habits are formed as young children and these become increasingly more difficult to change as we get older. It turns out that cultivating school gardens can increase the daily vegetable intake of elementary school children by offering an opportunity to educate them about Read More...
This technology allows plants to communicate with farmers
Scientists at the Swiss deep tech company Vivent have created technology that allows us to know exactly what our plants need. Before this, farmers have relied on secondary indicators for finding problems with their crops, looking, for example, for signs of drought by checking out their roots. But Read More...
A small patch could soon replace blood tests
Drawing blood is a common component of many medical tests, but this somewhat invasive process may soon be a thing of the past as researchers at the University of Washington have developed a small patch that adheres to the skin to scan for biomarkers and signs of disease. The patch is the size Read More...
These emergency shelters can later be converted into permanent homes
When a natural disaster occurs, aid organizations typically send emergency relief tents to those who have lost their home as a result. While extremely helpful, these tents usually last a year at max, after which they become no longer functional and end up in the landfill. In a bid to extend the Read More...
February 10, 2021
Today we're talking about the revival of America's Civilian Conservation Corps and how Paris is repurposing its underground parking garages as urban mushroom farms. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...