Mathematicians can make traffic jams history—all we have to do is listen to them
It may be difficult to find things that we all agree on—but we’re confident that everyone will agree on this: traffic jams suck! What makes traffic even more irritating is that, according to traffic flow experts, most of the congestion on the road is completely unnecessary. According to Read More...
Chicago pledges to run all city operations with clean energy
As countries large and small struggle with the undeniable impacts of climate change, more and more cities are taking a lead in mapping out strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One particularly fruitful avenue to follow involves stamping out the excessive burning of fossil fuels. Well, the Read More...
The history of square dancing in America—part I of True American
The Optimist Daily is taking a journey into ideas and symbols that shape the world with our our mini-series True American. Our first episode explores what many consider a cornerstone of American culture: Square dancing. Square dancing, contrary to popular belief, is not just a “Southern Read More...
VR tech helps international team of surgeons separate twins with fused brains
In miraculous medical news, virtual reality (VR) has helped surgeons successfully separate conjoined twins with craniopagus. Craniopagus describes a condition where twins are born with fused brains. It is an incredibly rare condition, and—this probably goes without saying—extremely challenging Read More...
Being human together
The African equivalent to Rene Descartes’s famous dictum, “I think, therefore I am,” which is the foundation of much modern Western culture, is called ubuntu and goes something like this: “We are, therefore I am.” Or: “I exist to the extent that others acknowledge and respect Read More...
Burger King Austria makes plant-based their "new normal"
Burger King Austria’s new campaign is boldly challenging the public’s expectation of what “normal” ought to be. In a climate-conscious world, making plant-based the default standard for burgers is quite a statement. The brand's experiment is simple and straightforward. When customers order Read More...
Clever sustainable living tips for renters
When it comes to making the world a greener, more sustainable place, homeowners have a lot of power. In the US, 40 percent of total energy consumption per year comes from buildings. This means when property owners decide to make changes to their buildings to reduce how their property affects the Read More...
6 herbs with antiviral properties worth adding to your pantry
While many cutting-edge medical advancements keep us healthy, it’s also worth looking back at old-school methods, like integrating antiviral herbs into your diet and using home remedies. Here’s a list of six antiviral herbs worth adding to your home gardens and pantries. Sage Various Read More...
Resistance training fights muscle loss. Here are 3 ways to do more of it
We've know for a while that resistance training is key to longevity and health. In a recent study, researchers found that resistance training was effective in building lean muscle mass and slowing muscle loss in both aging women and men. The study, which came from the University of New South Read More...
Think Global, Eat Local
“A garden is a solution that leads to other solutions. It is part of the limitless pattern of good health and good sense." – Wendell Berry By Sadie Wilbur Dirty Hands, Happy Heart My love for all things green began when I was a young girl. I grew up alongside a variety of trees and plants, Read More...