It’s not chicken. It’s a pea-based chicken alternative with an odd backstory
The development of plant-based meat has been quite fascinating to watch for those of us here at the Optimist Daily. Just a couple years ago meat alternatives such as Tofurkey were almost a joke and certainly not in the mainstream. These days it seems there’s a new plant-based meat alternative on Read More...
Elephant and rhino populations rebound in Tanzania after crackdown on poaching
Iconic African animals including elephants and rhinos have long been targeted by organized criminal networks that are feeding an insatiable demand for ivory and rhino horn in Asian countries. But strategic anti-poaching government action may just be key to tackling the problem. In Tanzania, for Read More...
Solar panels are helping Indian farmers irrigate their crops
Hundreds of millions of people in India depend on farming for their livelihoods, but widespread droughts in recent years mean they often struggle to find enough water for their fields. Right now, rural farmers have to rely on diesel pumps to access groundwater for irrigation, but many of them Read More...
An injection of nanoparticles could help prevent paralysis after cord injuries
When it comes to spinal cord injuries that lead to paralysis, it is the immune system that actually causes most of the damage. Soon, however, it’s possible that an injection of nanoparticles at the injury site could prevent the body’s immune system from overreacting to trauma and resulting in Read More...
Scientists are fighting to liberate the world’s academic research from paywalls
Science has amassed so much valuable knowledge that humanity can use, and yet, a huge chunk of that knowledge is owned by a few corporations who keep it behind paywalls. One of those corporations is Elsevier, which owns around 3,000 academic journals and withholds some 18 percent of all the Read More...
Could lab-grown meat help save the planet?
While the market for plant-based meat alternatives is exploding, there’s another alternative to farm-raised meat that could soon become a staple of your local supermarket: lab-grown meat. While companies vary in exact details, broadly speaking “lab-grown meat” refers to a method of making Read More...
Why difficult conversations can be transformative—even without a resolution
In the early 2000s, psychology professor Peter Coleman of Columbia University established The Difficult Conversations Lab to study deeply rooted, complicated and hard-to-solve conflicts. He wanted to understand why conflicts in families, communities, and in the international arena get stuck in a Read More...
Virgin has found a way to make satellite launches more eco-friendly
If you haven’t already heard, Virgin Orbit successfully dropped a 70-foot rocket from a modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet at 35,000 feet. Although that sounds more like a dreadful occurrence that would happen during a war, it’s actually a good thing. Here’s why. Currently, launching a satellite Read More...
Feed your brain by paying attention to the symbolisms of your daily commute
You’ve probably heard the advice to change up your commute now and then as a way to take your brain off of autopilot and give your synapses a little exercise. Here’s another activity that might feed your grey matter: try contemplating the symbolism embedded in the modes of transportation you Read More...
Study: realigning wind turbines can boost the energy output of wind farms
People who follow auto racing or sailing know about aerodynamics and wind turbulence. Race cars leave eddies of disturbed air in their wake, slowing down the cars behind. Sailboats have similar eddies of turbulent air streaming back from their sails, slowing down the boats following. Based Read More...