New giant database lets people learn about the lives of millions of slaves
While we know the dark history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the number of Africans forcibly taken from their homes, we hardly know anything about the lives of individual slaves. Only a few historical enslaved people are known by name, and most are lost to history. In a colossal effort to Read More...
Jack Dorsey donates $15 million to fund more guaranteed income pilots
Back in July, we wrote about the founding of a coalition called Mayors for Guaranteed Income, which was started by Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. The group’s purpose is to start piloting guaranteed income programs in cities as a way to support people who are struggling during the economic crisis Read More...
Animal park welcomes birth of critically endangered Sumatran orangutan
To maximize the odds of survival for the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan species, a special program was set up at the Pairi Daiza animal park in Belgium to help stimulate the birth of new Sumatran orangutans. The program works by studying the DNA of orangutans that already live in the park Read More...
World’s first ‘reef credit’ system lets companies help save coral reefs
When companies aren’t able to slash the emissions they produce, oftentimes they’ll purchase carbon offsets to fund programs that are directly removing carbon emissions, such as reforestation projects. Funding such programs help tackle the problem of atmosphere-heating emissions, but it Read More...
New York to divest massive pension fund from fossil fuels
Environmental activists won an incredible victory this week after the state of New York announced it will divest its $226 billion pension fund from fossil fuels. New York state has the third-largest pension fund in the US, with more than $12 billion having been invested in fossil fuels. In fact, Read More...
These 5 foods will help lift your mood all winter long
With the days becoming shorter and the weather colder, it’s not uncommon for people to start feeling emotionally drained. In fact, some 10 million Americans experience a subtype of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) each year during the winter months, with symptoms including Read More...
Parsnips are in season. Here’s how to best enjoy this healthy root veggie
We’re all about eating seasonally at the Optimist Daily, and with the winter months here, a whole bunch of root veggies are now in season. Amongst those root veggies is the parsnip, which looks a bit like a white carrot. Let’s take a look at the amazing health benefits of parsnips and how to Read More...
Tweet tweet! Study finds birds are linked to happiness levels
If you find yourself happier around singing birds, you’re not alone. A new study from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research indicates being around greater bird biodiversity is actually linked to greater happiness levels amongst people. To come to this conclusion, the Read More...
15-year-old inventor named Time’s ‘Kid of the Year’
For 92 years, Time Magazine has finished the year off by presenting a “Person of the Year” on its front cover. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg graced the magazine’s front cover last year, becoming the youngest ever to do so at the age of 16. This year, Time wanted to recognize “the Read More...
The wheelchair has finally received a smart update
The wheelchair has been pivotal in bringing mobility back to people who suffer from paralysis. That said, wheelchair technology hasn’t really evolved since the 1980s, so an update is long overdue. Recently, a Scottish design firm Phoenix Instinct revealed a lightweight wheelchair made of Read More...