This AI system is designed to protect roosting bats
The US is home to more than 40 species of bats, but habitat loss, climate change, and disease have taken a toll on populations with many species facing potential extinction. Bats often nest under bridges or overpasses as a way to seek shelter, but lack of awareness about their presence can cause Read More...
Ancient footprints could be earliest evidence of humans in the Americas
Exciting new research from a team of archeologists in New Mexico shows that humans likely reached the Americas far earlier than previously thought. A hotly debated topic in the scientific community, previous research placed the arrival of humans in the North American interior around 16,000 years Read More...
How to avoid the three most common fall allergies
Fall is the season of beautiful leaves and cozy soups, but what might not be so pleasant is your fall allergies. As summer blooms fade and winds pick up, you might begin to experience allergies that are just as bad, if not worse, than those in the spring. Allergies can be caused by a wide variety Read More...
6 In-season superfoods to add to your grocery list this fall
As we head into the fall season, many of us are looking forward to changing leaves and cooler weather, but one of the most exciting parts of autumn is a whole new range of superfoods coming back into season. Just as we anxiously awaited the arrival of strawberries and summer squash back in May, Read More...
Decolonizing Science: Kiwi scientists take a stand on using Maori language
At The Optimist Daily, we have often featured stories about scientific discoveries that help improve our understanding of the biosphere. We are also big fans of inclusivity, particularly when it shows an appreciation of Indigenous wisdom. That’s why we wanted to feature this delightful account of Read More...
This printing method eliminates the need for harmful dyes and pigments
The chemical processes needed to produce the pigments and inks for printers, combined with the issue of wasteful plastic cartridges, make printing a less than sustainable process. To address this issue, a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Chemistry has come up Read More...
New York aims to ban the sale of all gas-powered vehicles by 2035
We wrote recently about New York City’s plan to create an expansive electrical vehicle (EV) charging network as part of an initiative to slash the city’s carbon emissions. New York is also taking another significant step towards this goal by banning the sale of all gas-powered vehicles in the Read More...
Popular New York clothing store now offers a secondhand shopping area
Shoppers who visit the Madewell store in Brooklyn will find a surprise if they head up to the location’s second floor. Madewell has collaborated with popular online used clothing retailer thredUP to create the “Circular Store”—an assortment of pre-owned Madewell products as well as repaired Read More...
Richmond, VA unveils Emancipation and Freedom Monument
Last week we shared how a controversial Robert E. Lee statue was finally removed from Virginia’s capital. In an acknowledgment of the history of slavery and the fight for equality in the US, Richmond has unveiled a new monument—a statue of a man and a woman holding an infant after they were Read More...
Spain to ban plastic wrapping on fruits and vegetables by 2023
After years of campaigning from green activists to stop grocers and large supermarkets alike from wrapping fresh produce in plastic packaging, the Spanish government is now finally devising legislation that will ban the use of this unnecessary waste by 2023. The move is part of a decree currently Read More...