This gel heals the delicate skin of people with “butterfly disease”
What is butterfly disease? The rare disease known as epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a genetic condition that causes the skin to be extremely fragile. Even the slightest touch can tear it, leaving people with wounds that never heal and even resulting in skin cancer. This gives EB its name Read More...
Deep sea snail venom lessens pain as well as morphine
Because Asprella cone snails reside at such great depths, scientists have not thoroughly studied them. Now we know, though, that these creatures have an impressive hunting strategery where they use their venom to stun and disorient fish. Then they feast upon the unfortunate fish, like a gory scene Read More...
This algorithm makes predicting the future more accessible
Some professions require the prophetic task of using existing data to predict future outcomes as accurately as possible. This can come in the form of trying to predict the upcoming week's weather, estimating a person's risk of developing a disease, or anticipating the best time to sell Read More...
Scientists discover decision-making brain cells
Our most complex organ, the brain, is a puzzle that scientists are still trying to piece together. Here at The Optimist Daily we like to keep our readers up to date with the latest discoveries on the neurological front, like pinpointing the singing regions of the brain or how zebrafish brains Read More...
Lab-grown meat can reduce your pet's carbon pawprint
Did you know about one-fifth of global meat production is for pet food? This means that around 5% of food-based greenhouse gas emissions are due to our furry friends' appetites. In the US alone, an estimated 65 million tons of CO2-equivalent methane and nitrous oxide is due to dog and cat Read More...
These spring vegetables are coming into season
Eating vegetables seasonally helps cut down transport emissions by preventing import of produce from the other side of the world. It also means your food will be fresher, more nutritious, tastier, and less expensive. If you’re wondering which vegetables this spring are coming into season, look Read More...
Infrared light can discern the safety of "twisted" drugs
Did you know that molecules twist? Certain drugs and supplements indicate which way the molecules in the product twist, with an L or a D before the names, indicating either a twist clockwise or counterclockwise. There is usually a specific kind of twist the human body wants depending on the Read More...
How many worlds exist outside our solar system?
Exoplanets are worlds just like our own that are revolving around a star. Here at The Optimist Daily, we’ve commonly reported on the discovery of new exoplanets, like the first time an exoplanet has been spotted outside our galaxy, or this peculiar planet with the shortest orbit around a star Read More...
Immune system chip reduces the need for animal testing
Finding immune system solutions so often necessitates stoking an immune response. Scientists unfortunately have to carry out tests for treatment for the immune system on live organisms, such as mice and non-human primates. What if there were a way to do this without animal testing? An Read More...
Banana paper saves potatoes by blocking worm communication
The potato cyst nematode is a pathogenic worm and something of a global menace. When these little critters come across potato farms they infest the crops, drastically reducing yield and size. Some areas of Africa see a 60 percent decline in potato yield after infestation, negatively affecting Read More...