Mars News: Perseverance finds organic molecules
NASA’s Perseverance rover has been wandering around Mars since it reached the planet on February 18th, 2021. Here at The Optimist Daily, we have tried to keep our readers up to date with the latest exciting mission information collected by this mighty machine. From its landing, first rock sample Read More...
AI helps uncover causes of Motor Neurone Disease
According to the CDC, 5,000 new cases of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) are diagnosed annually in the United States. This disease causes nerve cells to stop functioning and die, resulting in sufferers losing the ability to voluntarily move their muscles and eventually becoming Read More...
World Meteorological Organization welcomes new leader
Amanda Lynch has been appointed to chair the board of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This United Nations agency has four main focuses: weather, climate, water, and environment. They research many aspects of the Earth’s behavior to provide vital information to the organization's 193 Read More...
Zebrafish brains reveal new information about our memories
It seems like we're writing about fish a whole lot lately! Last week, we featured an article about goldfish learning to drive. This week, zebrafish, a species studied for their relatively long lifespans, are helping us understand how memories are made! Let's talk synapses! Signals in the brain Read More...
Virtual reality therapy increases comfort and access
One trend we've seen coming out of these past several years of pandemic-induced stress and uncertainty is a growing appreciation for mental health, as well as a willingness to seek treatment for mental distress. The rise of electronic communications led to more access and novel approaches to Read More...
The rise in popularity of zero-waste stores
What are zero-waste stores? Zero-waste or refill stores, specialize in products with no packaging waste and are non-harmful for the environment. A wide variety of foods and household cleaning products can be found at many of these stores, with the hope in the future that mainstream supermarkets Read More...
Scientists invent the fastest DNA sequencing tool yet
A record breaking technique A team from the Stanford School of Medicine has created a new method of mega-sequencing. Using this, individuals can have their three billion plus nucleotides read in just over five hours, a record breaking time! "A few weeks is what most clinicians call 'rapid' when Read More...
Using rubber to create safer, longer lasting EV batteries
Synthetic rubbers have been widely applied for many purposes, such as in tires, sealants, and wearable electronics. A study, from the Georgia Institute of Technology in collaboration with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, has discovered a new use for the material in electric Read More...
Ketamine as an effective tool in treating alcoholism
In a follow up from a story published earlier this month on ‘How ketamine can help fight depression,’ we are going to report on new data published from a recent clinical trial. This time instead of depression, doctors administered this drug to people suffering from alcoholism. The clinical Read More...
The population of Ugandan tree-climbing lions is growing
One of the only populations of Ishasha tree-climbing lions in the world resides in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). Unfortunately, the population faces numerous threats such as loss of habitat, climate change, and illegal wildlife trade. The small group of lions only includes Read More...