Today’s Solutions: May 18, 2024

Arts & Culture

Here we cover the latest and most uplifting exhibitions, creative movements, and imaginative design to keep you inspired throughout your day.

Troy Kotsur poses for photo

Troy Kotsur becomes first deaf man to win an acting Oscar

Though Hollywood’s Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are often critiqued for their lack of representation, there has been progress in the most recent edition. This past weekend, we saw a beautiful example of inclusion during the 94th Academy Awards, as Troy Kotsur became the first deaf Read More...

comic-style graphic of woman reading comic

Marvel superhero tackles climate change and social injustice

There’s a new Marvel superhero in town, and she’s a Puerto Rican heroine pumped to tackle climate change, political corruption, and all the intertwined social injustices. In an upcoming installment of the graphic novel series La Boriqueña, the Nuyorican (a portmanteau that refers to Read More...

Creativity boost

6 surprising ways to boost your creativity

Creativity is an essential part of problem solving, communication, and for seeing how things are connected. Everyone can benefit professionally or personally from thinking outside the box from time to time. Whether you’re an engineer solving a problem on a medical testing system, a novelist with Read More...

Lego Rebellion re-creating protest against Shell's Cambo oilfield plans

These Lego Rebels are taking a stance against the climate crisis

We’ve previously written about Lego’s efforts to lead the toy-making industry towards sustainability. But the toy company is not only making play-time for kids — and adults — more eco-friendly with plant-based building blocks. It turns out its toy bricks are also helping raise awareness Read More...

Winner of 2021 World Nature Photography Awards - Facing Reality, Leopard Seal and Penguin, by Amos Nachoum

And the results from the World Nature Photography competition are in

Our world is a beautiful place inhabited by extraordinary creatures. Thankfully, there are skilled photographers who dedicate their lives to capturing precious moments in nature so that the rest of us can get a peek into other hidden worlds. The World Nature Photography Awards (WNPA) is a Read More...

Burkina Institute of Technology.

Architecture’s top award has its first Black winner

At The Optimist Daily we like to highlight milestones in the movement for equality, like when Maya Angelou became the first Black woman to be featured on a US coin or when St.Louis elected Tishaura Jones their first black female mayor. The latest triumph comes from the world of architecture, Read More...

Rear view of busy female artist sitting on chair in front of easel, painting with fingers, using white and blue oil or acrylic paint.

Adopt this mindset to cultivate a hobby you truly love

Here at The Optimist Daily, we understand how valuable your free time is and the value of enriching it with pleasurable activities. This could be anywhere from simply resting to rejuvenating your energy levels, puzzling, or painting, whatever floats your boat! However, our competitive modern Read More...

Question mark from pencil shavings with crumpled paper balls, pencils, notepads and empty coffee cups. Still life with writer workplace. Creative block concept.

Bust out of your creative block quickly with these 4 exercises

When the creative part of your brain just can’t come up with new ideas, sometimes it’s effective to try a new approach. With that in mind, here are four exercises that can help you get rid of the creative block in less than 10 minutes. Shadowing When you get stuck, think of a creative hero Read More...

man with popcorn chooses movie to watch

Green role models, an eco-friendly media change

Scientific advancements, policy changes, and technological solutions are certainly important in our fight against climate change, however, we cannot rely only on these methods if we truly want to help the environment. To effectively tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis, we must also Read More...

Toni Morrison the Bluest Eye

A victory for free speech: Toni Morrisson’s The Bluest Eye unbanned

Last month, the board of the Wentzville School District of St. Louis, Missouri voted to ban Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye from school libraries. This came after a handful of parents requested the book be banned, citing themes of racism and child abuse.  Now, after a Read More...