Papilio is a self-powered street lamp designed to reduce light pollution
Human innovation has driven our civilizations forward, but oftentimes at the detriment of other species. For instance, conventional lights and street lamps allow people to work and navigate at night, but they can confuse nocturnal life and attract pollinators, killing them in the process. Tobias Read More...
Oakland to launch alternative response program for nonviolent 911 calls
Following successful alternative policing programs in Denver and Newark, Oakland, California is the latest city to adopt such a program with an initiative to redirect nonviolent, noncriminal calls to mobile teams of civilians. Projected to launch this fall, the program is called Mobile Read More...
This gifted dog is helping a Texas fire department by sniffing out arson
From preventing the spread of COVID-19 to helping turtle conservation and protecting wildlife, dogs continue to prove themselves as humans’ most devoted helpers. One of the latest cases that further adds evidence to this fact involves Sheldon, a dog that’s helping a fire department in Texas Read More...
Yoga and breathing exercises help kids with ADHD stay focused
While prescription medications are often the go-to solution for treating ADHD symptoms in children, a recent study from scientists in Russia shows that yoga and deep breathing exercises may just do the trick too. As part of the research, psychologists at Ural Federal University (UrFU) studied 16 Read More...
Fluorescent dye can help determine when to replace your car's electric motor
The age of the electric vehicle is upon us, but with this new era comes a learning curve as we figure out how electric motors function over time. While many studies show that electric cars require less maintenance than their gas-powered counterparts, they are still prone to wear and Read More...
Leonardo DiCaprio and conservationists launch Galápagos rewilding project
The Galápagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador, are one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, but deforestation, loss of plants and animals, and invasive species have taken a toll on the region. Fortunately, a new conservation initiative spearheaded by Leonardo Read More...
New version of "The Oregon Trail" finally portrays Indigenous perspectives
When it was first launched in 1971 as a computer game, “The Oregon Trail” told the story of white settlers traveling across the American West in 1848 and let players assume the roles of wagon leaders whose mission was to keep people and cattle alive while facing starvation and other threats. A Read More...
After 300 years of absence, this giant bird may finally return to Ireland
We have good news for bird watchers and folklorists in Ireland, where a pair of cranes have been spotted nesting on a rewetted peat bog in the country’s Midlands for the first time in centuries. The giant bird, which is a popular motif in Irish folklore and was a common pet during medieval Read More...
May 20, 2021
Tune in to learn about wind turbines shaped like tulips and how underwater research in Texas is providing climate clues. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
May 20, 2021
Tune in to learn about wind turbines shaped like tulips and how underwater research in Texas is providing climate clues. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...