French ban on plastic packaging for most fruit and veg comes into force
A few months ago, we wrote about France’s ambitious plan to phase out single-use plastic packaging. On January 1st, that ban went into effect, paving the way for more sustainable and ethical consumption habits among its citizens. As part of the ban, about 30 varieties of fruit and vegetables, Read More...
New York City moves away from natural gas in new buildings
As cities scramble to meet their ambitious emissions reduction goals, local governments are increasingly looking to shift from fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy. New York City, for example, has become the latest major city to ban the use of natural gas in new buildings, reports Reuters. As Read More...
Decline in orphanhood as HIV treatment increases
Sub-Saharan Africa was hit by an epidemic of HIV, starting from the 1980s. With it came death, resulting in an increase in orphanhood for the children left behind. Studies have associated individuals left in this situation with an increased rate of adverse mental and physical health Read More...
This simple exercise can improve your brain power
If squats are part of your daily routine, then we have good news for you! Doing just a few minutes of this resistance exercise can go a long way towards improving your brain power and making you smarter, according to recent research. Squats are often used by fitness trainers to improve strength Read More...
Let's embrace the Swedish winter tradition of “little Saturday”
In northern Sweden, where the winter season means up to 20 hours of darkness a day, staying positive during colder months is tough, but fortunately, residents of these parts of the world have come up with a variety of strategies to make winters more fun and cozy. One of these strategies is Read More...
World's oldest person Kane Tanaka celebrates 119th birthday
This past Sunday, the world’s oldest person, Kane Tanaka, celebrated her 119th birthday in Japan at the nursing home where she lives in Fukuoka prefecture in southwest Japan. Tanaka, whose status as the world’s oldest person was recognized by The Guinness Book of Records in March 2019 when Read More...
These designers in Thailand are turning elephant dung into bricks
Here at The Optimist Daily, we’re always keen on celebrating the advent of circularity into different sectors of the economy. With that said, we would like to share with you a recent innovative circular solution that uses animal waste to help make the construction industry more Read More...
Here are 8 eco-friendly options for your New Year’s Resolutions
If you’re still struggling to figure out what to set as your resolution for the New Year, it may be worth considering a resolution that includes the wellbeing of the environment! In the past 50 years, humanity has more than doubled the consumption of natural resources, which will have (and Read More...
6 ways to maintain mental health during unpredictability
It’s now 2022, and the world is still reeling from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The global crisis has taught us many lessons, one of them being the importance of resilience and maintaining our mental health, especially in exceptional circumstances. Here are six practices that will help you Read More...
A new approach to treating brain aneurysms
A brain aneurysm is defined as a weakness in a blood vessel. This area then becomes susceptible to filling with blood and creating a dome, just like a balloon. Causing increased pressure in the brain and loss of oxygen to the surrounding cells, leading to sometimes deadly outcomes. A wide-necked Read More...