Saving America’s citrus fruits
Citrus Greening Disease Citrus Greening Disease, or Huanglongbing (HLB), is a life threatening plant disease that has already destroyed many of Florida's crops and is on its way to ruining California’s also. Asain citrus psyllids are the tiny culprits causing the disease by transmitting deadly Read More...
This is your brain on music
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Music does something to humans like no other species. The rhythm gets inside our bodies and we can’t help but move along with the bass, or sing our heart out to that catchy chorus. Scientists from the University of Tokyo sought to uncover exactly what is Read More...
How ketamine can help fight depression
Quick acting aid A recent review from the University of Exeter, has shown that the sedative drug ketamine, has therapeutic effects in regards to mental health. The study, published in BJPsych Open, analyzed 83 papers to conclude that the drug can quickly improve symptoms of depression and suicidal Read More...
Decline in orphanhood as HIV treatment increases
Sub-Saharan Africa was hit by an epidemic of HIV, starting from the 1980s. With it came death, resulting in an increase in orphanhood for the children left behind. Studies have associated individuals left in this situation with an increased rate of adverse mental and physical health Read More...
A new approach to treating brain aneurysms
A brain aneurysm is defined as a weakness in a blood vessel. This area then becomes susceptible to filling with blood and creating a dome, just like a balloon. Causing increased pressure in the brain and loss of oxygen to the surrounding cells, leading to sometimes deadly outcomes. A wide-necked Read More...
Who made it to Mars in 2021?
The red giant Mars has fascinated humans for many years, due to its intriguing habitable climate, the possibility for ancient life, and interesting findings of water and methane. The planet only aligns with Earth well enough for interplanetary launch once every 26 months. Therefore, space agencies Read More...
Ancient nits aid uncovering of human ancestry
To uncover information about ancient genomes scientists have previously relied on fossils of bones and teeth. Alongside ethical issues, the problem with this is most genetic sequences obtained from this old DNA are fragmented and incomplete. A group of researchers from the University of Reading and Read More...
The secret symmetry of pearls revealed
Pearls are created when an irritant, such as a grain of sand or debris, gets trapped inside a mollusk. As protection, a smooth layer of mineral and protein called nacre forms around it. Humans have been fascinated by these iridescent beauties since we first discovered them thousands of years ago. Read More...
Study reveals how organisms can synchronize behavior
Synchronized behavior can be seen all over the place. From fireflies flashing in unison, to birds flying in their V structure, to menstrual synchronization in women. In fact, human synchronization can be observed in many social behavioral circumstances, such as; walking in time, having the same Read More...
Ultrasound could be used to treat addiction and OCD
The 'credit assignment' problem refers to when someone attributes an event to the wrong outcome. For example, passing an exam and instead of assigning your success to the many hours of studying put in, you put it down to the number of times you brushed your teeth that day. This psychological Read More...