How aspirin and crop resilience go hand in hand
Did you know that plants have been making aspirin for millions of years? And humans have been using it as far back as Neanderthal times for self-medication? The pain medication can be found in trees and sunflowers alike in an unprocessed form called salicylic acid, created in response to when a Read More...
The secret to our species' success? Our grandparents
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The long-standing theory of evolution has always been based on natural selection: that traits are favored to promote reproductive success. This makes sense why harmful mutations and diseases appear much later in life, with our bodies more likely to degenerate Read More...
Largest number of fin whales seen feeding together in over 50 years
Fin whales are the second-largest in the world, growing up to 85 feet (26 m) long and 160,000 pounds (72.3 metric tons). In 1976, the numbers of these magnificent giants in the Antarctic were dangerously low, caused by human commercial hunting practices. This caused a ban on commercial whaling to Read More...
These postcards stand up for people with disabilities' rights
It seems it would be simple to respect and protect others' basic human rights, however, there are many situations where a lack of education breaks these vital liberties. This is why postcards covering five rights protected by the Human Rights Act are currently being circulated through England, Read More...
CO2 emissions significantly reduced at the last Olympic Games
The Pandemic turned everyone’s world upside down, causing us all to adapt to new ways of life and society to find a new “normal.” While this experience came with its negatives, it also created an opportunity for numerous lessons to be learned and possibilities for change, especially when it Read More...
Roman jars reveal the secrets of ancient winemaking
Archaeologists are still putting the full story of human history together. From the discovery of a Viking shipyard in Sweden to the Sistine Chapel of the Ancients in the Amazon, there are so many hidden treasures still to uncover. The discovery and analysis of three wine jars or amphoras - Read More...
To ecologists’ surprise, toads can climb trees
Toads were always known as terrestrial creatures, spending their time on both land and in water… until now. To ecologists’ surprise, a group of volunteers surveying dormice and bats in trees made the accidental and unexpected discovery that toads also dwell in trees. How did they discover Read More...
Could crocodiles help defeat hearing loss?
Around 1.5 billion people worldwide live with impaired hearing, this can create significant problems for these individuals and often reduce the perceived quality of life. The most common cause of these impairments is damage to non-regenerative receptors called hair cells. Many innovations are being Read More...
Shapeshifting robots could automate teeth brushing and flossing
Teeth cleaning is something we all should do daily and thoroughly, however, is something most of us do not do properly. The design of the toothbrush has remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of years, so to revolutionize how we look after our mouths, a team from the University of Pennsylvania Read More...
The results from the longest study on avocados are in
While always being front and center in Mexican, Ethiopian, and Brazilian cuisine, an avocado obsession has swept across the rest of the world over the past 10 years. It’s pretty much a given that every hip cafe will include an ‘avocado smash’ on their menu, and you’ll be able to spot this Read More...