This is how spiders use electricity to fly
Spiders surprise us, they creep us out, and yet some of them might hold secrets to our technological future. While they may infiltrate our homes, we could learn a thing or two from these eight-legged animals. We’ve previously reported on the versatility of spider silk and the potential of Read More...
Some tips to spot false posts about the Russia-Ukraine conflict
It’s hard to discern what to believe and what to question, what with fake news and improved deep fake videos. Misinformation has been commonly used as a propagandistic tactic to distract, confuse, and redirect public opinion by many countries throughout history. In World War Two, the Germans Read More...
To watch out for predators, voles trim the grass around them
Here at The Optimist Daily, we commonly report on new ecological findings from animals all around the world. The more scientists uncover about the behavior and lives of the creatures we share the world with the better able we are to help them. Whether that’s uncovering snow monkeys incredible Read More...
This concept of shape shifting robots will blow your mind
The capabilities of robots keeps growing and growing thanks to innovative minds across the world. In the past few years, scientists have taught robots to independently perform keyhole surgery, hike across unknown and uneven terrain faster than humans, and an oft forgotten challenge of all, the Read More...
VR helps reduce social isolation for seniors
The pandemic has been hard on all of us, especially at-risk groups with preexisting health concerns. Senior citizens are one of these groups that have been hit the hardest, with the number of social activities and sports that they can partake in being drastically reduced. Consequently, the levels Read More...
Signs of life discovered deep in the Earth
We all know that things happening below the Earth’s crust, the top layer in which humans inhabit, impact what’s going on above. From volcanoes to tsunamis, the huge tectonic plates beneath our feet are hugely influential. For the first time ever, scientists have discovered how life above has Read More...
Famous missing ship has been found in the Antarctic
There have been plenty of famous shipwrecks on Earth: The RMS Titanic, The Nuestra Senora de Atocha, The Mary Rose. Now thanks to recent findings from a group of marine archaeologists, another ship can be added to this list of impressive wreckages, The Endurance. Endurance is the lost vessel of Read More...
Floating ants may inspire the future of robotics and adaptive materials
Ants are extremely adaptable creatures. The little critters are one of the strongest animals in relation to their size, being able to carry 50 times their own body weight. They are also the longest living insect, with some species living for around 30 years. However, the teamwork these tiny animals Read More...
This breathing cushion could ease your anxiety
Just reading the news, you might occasionally feel your anxiety rise. That’s why The Optimist Daily exists, to counter all this worry by refocusing your worldview on the good that’s going on. As we’ve shown again and again, there is a lot! We are not the only ones battling for people’s Read More...
Scientists can now decode pigs' emotions
We can clearly see animals' emotions through their behavior, whether that’s dogs filling up with glee when we grab their leash or elephants mourning a loss in their herd, there is clearly some feeling going on here. While communication between animals and humans remains at a divide, we do Read More...