The real reason behind why cats freak out over catnip
Cats’ reaction to catnip - and its Asian counterpart silvervine - is truly a sight to be seen. Our household pets start aggressively rolling, rubbing, chewing, and licking it like they have been possessed by these plants' taste and aroma. A team from Iwate University has recently published a Read More...
Giant tortoise believed extinct for 100 years is actually alive
We previously shared a story about a family finding their pet tortoise alive and well in their attic after it had been missing for over 30 years. Now prepare for an equally endearing tortoise comeback story. Considered extinct for more than a century, a giant tortoise is actually alive in the Read More...
10 tips to keep exercising during the hottest months
While our need to exercise doesn’t stop, neither does the weather, and the summer months are getting hotter and hotter. If you’re going to brave the sweltering sun and still go for a run, here are a few things to keep in mind. Adapt to the heat Don’t jump straight into your normal routine Read More...
Many US states now allow mental health absences for students
Linnea Sorensen is a 17-year-old student from Schaumburg, Illinois northwest of Chicago. She falls into a funk every time her girlfriend of four years leaves for her six-month stints with the Marine Corps. Linnea has trouble focusing on her schoolwork when she gets like this. "I'm somebody who Read More...
The Dad Gang is breaking the stereotype of the absent Black father
In honor of father's day, we are revamping a few stories that celebrate the inspiring dads out there in the world, empower dads, or highlight the incredible experience of fatherhood. Good fathers, good community members As a black man, Sean Williams would regularly receive “good dad” Read More...
These dads build free desks for kids learning from home
In honor of father's day this Sunday, we are revamping a few stories that celebrate the inspiring dads out there in the world, empower dads, or highlight the incredible experience of fatherhood. Learning and teaching from home Taking classes or working from home without the luxury of a home Read More...
The shape of flowers reduces parasites transmitted to bumblebees
Bumblebees are furry and critical pollinators that are sadly vulnerable to many things such as heat and predators. Another thing that affects their populations that we can keep an eye out for in our gardens is parasites. Recent research from North Carolina State University showed that the Read More...
A garden designer’s top 6 tips for rewilding your own garden
Rewilding is a progressive form of ecological restoration and conservation that returns a region to its natural, wild, and “unkempt” state. Here at The Optimist Daily, we love to spotlight the amazing rewilding initiatives that are taking off worldwide, and exactly how each project helps boost Read More...
Meet the interior designer helping divorced dads settle into singlehood
In honor of father's day this Sunday, we are revamping a few stories that celebrate the inspiring dads out there in the world, empower dads, or highlight the incredible experience of fatherhood. We can all agree that a break-up of any kind is a stressful process, but divorce with children Read More...
5 simple ways you can do less laundry
Apart from being an extremely mundane task, doing your laundry is also rather far from being an eco-friendly chore. It involves an energy-intensive process that uses a lot of water and, in the case of synthetic fabrics, releases countless microplastics into the environment, threatening public Read More...