These microbes could help honey bees thrive
As we like to remind our readers a lot at The Optimist Daily, honeybees are essential for our planet's ecosystem. Humans rely on these little pollinators for food security as they basically pollinate everything! Not to mention the countless other species that rely on plants to feed and for Read More...
Diagnosing hearing loss with a simple speech test
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 billion people live with some degree of hearing loss. Currently, to test the severity of an individual's hearing defect, lengthy examinations are carried out or sometimes not at all. Research conducted by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Read More...
Octopus and human brains have incredible similarities
Octopuses’ are some of the intelligent animals inhabiting our diverse planet. Their extensive neurological system is made up of 500 million neurons, similar to that of a dog. But unlike a dog where most of these neurons are located in their brain, over two-thirds of octopuses' can be found in Read More...
An "exercise pill" could be in our reach
Exercise is necessary for maintaining physical and mental health, and improving our quality and length of life. But for people who find it difficult to exercise due to age, medical conditions, and time, these benefits cannot be reaped. But what if we could get some of the advantages of exercise, Read More...
Shapeshifting bacteria are the key to understanding UTIs
Most women have had the unpleasant experience of a urinary tract infection (UTI), with nearly one in three women requiring antibiotics before the age of 24 to treat the condition. 80 percent of these infections are caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), a bacteria with increasing resistance to Read More...
Studies show for true satisfaction, embrace the negative side of life
BY THE OPTIMSIT DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM With self-help and positivity being constantly promoted around us, it is fair to say our world is obsessed with happiness. While happiness certainly feels great, the goal to strive only towards happiness is unrealistic and can certainly leave us disappointed. Read More...
Babies may be the key for the next generation of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is extremely valuable for basically all parts of society, allowing more efficient, accurate, and speedy decisions. For example, this AI algorithm that assesses and prioritizes patients to either the ICU or a general hospital bed, or this AI-powered robot that can sort Read More...
We can now easily produce electrically conductive substances
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Electrically conductive polymers - such as polyaniline - are vital for numerous advanced technologies, from lighting to, circuit boards, to ink-jet printing. Despite their importance, producing these polymers is difficult due to the complex and pricey Read More...
Mummies tell the story of centuries-old E.coli
As humans did not have the current means of recording events and knowledge of diseases, it’s difficult to study the history of humans and diseases. Rare gold mines of preserved genetic material come around once every so often, slowly giving us more and more insight into our fascinating past. This Read More...
You and your roommates make up your house’s microbiome
Here at The Optimist Daily we commonly write articles about the gut microbiome, its importance to our health, and how we can keep it happy. These countless microorganisms help shape and direct the lives of their hosts and are impacted by numerous factors, including; diet, smoking, medicines, Read More...