Experimental “dementia villages” turn back the clock to help seniors
Just imagine how terrifying it would be to find yourself lost in your own home, or to have everyone around you keep insisting that a person you don't recognize is your own child. That’s what life can be like with dementia. It’s scary—and not only that, it can also be dangerous. A person with Read More...
Feeling a bit too angry lately? Here are some ways to release anger
It’s no secret that letting anger simmer or having rage outbursts hurts your personal and professional relationships. Beyond that, it also impacts your well-being. Constantly bottling up our frustration can lead to physical and emotional reactions, including high blood pressure and anxiety. The Read More...
How conservationists brought this tiny bird back from extinction
The Guam rail is a tiny, virtually flightless bird that once thrived on the Micronesian island of Guam. But that all changed sometime in the mid-1900s when brown tree snakes made their way onto the island, likely stowed away in cargo delivered by a U.S. Navy supply ship. And once these lithe, Read More...
Cities to ban evictions for workers affected by coronavirus response
The coronavirus is certainly a worrying development—and while it doesn’t necessarily feel that the federal government is acting swiftly enough to protect people, cities such as San Jose, California, are taking steps to help those who need it most. As you might know, someone trying to survive Read More...
This dietary supplement cuts methane emission from cows by 26%
At the Optimist Daily, we are strong advocates of a meat-free diet, especially since the production of livestock is the greatest contributor of greenhouse gasses in America. With that said, beef production is showing no signs of stopping any time soon, so we’re open to solutions that minimize the Read More...
Doctors have cured a patient of HIV for only the second time ever
For only the second time in history, a man has been cured of HIV. That man is Adam Castillejo, and he is free of the virus more than 30 months after stopping antiretroviral therapy. He was not cured by the HIV drugs, however, but by a stem-cell treatment, he received for cancer he also had, the Read More...
Naga villagers in India are giving up their guns to save their wildlife
India’s tribal north-east, Nagaland, was once a “biodiversity hotspot”, one of 36 such regions identified globally. Ninety-two species of mammal have been documented here, as well as 490 species of butterfly, 500 species of bird and 360 species of orchid. But the Nagaland hit a turning point Read More...
Instead of sitting, try squatting or kneeling for your health
It’s well known that we spend way too much time sitting. According to one study, Americans spend nearly eight hours of their day seated. That’s no Bueno. To mitigate some of the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle (like heart disease), some have opted for standing desks or taking a lap Read More...
This nonprofit’s text-based tool is getting teens to quit vaping
The 21-year-old nonprofit best known for its bold anti-smoking ads is rising to meet the vaping crisis. Truth Initiative’s “Tested on Humans” campaign last summer (in which anthropomorphized animals expressed concern that humans are being used as guinea pigs to test the effects of vaping) Read More...
This pink bird is actually an AI device designed to help disabled people
Whether for better or worse, just about everyone has been impacted in some way by new technology. One cohort of people that have truly benefitted is the disabled, who have seen new technologies make living independently more possible. That brings us to Loro, a new device created by engineer David Read More...