Pilates looks deceptively easy, but here’s why it works wonders
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Pilates hit the big time in the mid-2000s when every gym seemed to be offering these classes, and flocks of people ran to participate. The activity was actually invented in the 1920s for rehabilitation, treating people such as soldiers returning from war and Read More...
Stressing out crops could be a good thing
Plants have feelings too. Although they are not conscious, plants release hormones in response to stimuli such as mechanical stimuli - like touch, wind, or rain - light, water, gravity, and nutrients. For example, when you run a knife down a rhubarb stalk, thousands of genes are activated, and a Read More...
What you need to know about NASA’s new mineral dust detector
Did you know that a billion metric tons of mineral dust - equivalent to 10,000 aircraft carriers - from deserts and dry regions on Earth get carried by strong winds into the atmosphere? Scientists are sure that this dust impacts the environment and climate, but there isn't enough data to determine Read More...
Team sports reduce children's risk of mental health problems
Participating in sports from a young age is essential for developing teamwork and motor skills, improving self-esteem, and reinforcing healthy habits. New research from California State University, Fullerton brought this further, explaining how different types of sports can impact youth mental Read More...
5 easy strategies to break your interrupting habit
Conversational dynamics can be powerful, and how you use them can change the whole feeling and outcome of a conversation. They have a complex structure and unsaid rules that need to be followed to ensure everyone is heard, feels respected, and the talk is productive. One of these rules is that Read More...
The surprising benefits of woodworking
The historical practice of woodworking is believed to have started thousands of years ago in ancient Chinese and Egyptian civilizations, as seen in drawings and artifacts preserved in tombs. Since then, the skill has grown into a hobby and evolved thanks to advances in modern technology. Of Read More...
Firefighting goats and The Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council
Surrounded by rugged steep mountains penetrated by hot dry Santa Ana winds, the Ojai Valley is particularly susceptible to wildfire, being in the top one percent of regions in the U.S. and the top three percent in California. The region's limited evacuation routes, vulnerable grid dependency, and Read More...
Gene therapy could effectively treat chronic pain from spinal injuries
Gene therapy is a growing field of medicine with enormous treatment potential for many currently incurable diseases. Scientists have so far created gene therapies to tackle a range of diseases, including the leading cause of blindness, sickle cell anemia, and a range of rare genetic Read More...
New study sniffs out cause of parosmia, disordered smells
What’s your favorite smell? Is it the whiff of freshly ground coffee in the morning or blossoms in spring? Whatever it may be, imagine a world where this sense is distorted and sometimes disturbing. This is the reality for people living with parosmia, a disease that can turn the smell of freshly Read More...
This LBGTQ hero is delivering aid on the Ukrainian front-line
Previously working as a metal fabricator in Denver, Colorado, Agatha Williams decided to uproot their life to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. The invasion of the country has placed many civilians in unwanted circumstances, having to face the daily horrors of war. Williams is a Read More...