Evergreen
Feeling checked out? Here’s how to recognize functional freeze and gently move forward
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM You’re up, dressed, answering emails, maybe even making dinner — but something’s off. You feel disconnected, foggy, or emotionally flat. If that rings true, you might be experiencing what mental health professionals call a functional freeze. Unlike Read More...
How Boise, Idaho is heating hundreds of buildings with clean geothermal energy
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In Boise, Idaho, being in hot water is a good thing — especially when it comes to how the city keeps warm. Home to hundreds of natural hot springs, Boise has tapped into the geothermal potential beneath its feet, creating the largest municipally operated Read More...
Is No Mow May helping bees or just overgrown hype? Here’s what the experts say
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Letting your lawn grow wild in May to help bees and other pollinators? That’s the pitch behind No Mow May, a conservation campaign that has bloomed on social media and in neighborhoods across North America. The idea is simple: stop mowing for one month so Read More...
Massachusetts millionaires multiply, thrive, and boost public services under new tax
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When Massachusetts voters approved the Fair Share Amendment in 2022—a four percent surtax on income over $1 million—critics warned it would send high earners fleeing the state. But two years later, a new report tells a very different story. According Read More...
Why reading aloud to your kids matters—even after they've learned to do it on their own
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For many families, reading aloud is a cherished part of childhood—a bedtime story, a favorite picture book, or a well-loved series that unfolds one chapter at a time. But once kids learn to read on their own, many parents understandably ease off. However, Read More...
Ancient humans may have used sunscreen to survive deadly solar radiation
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM With summer around the corner and UV levels on the rise, sunscreen is about to be a seasonal staple for most of us. But if you think the idea of sun protection is a modern invention, think again. New research from the University of Michigan suggests our Read More...
New vagus nerve stimulation treatment shows 100 percent PTSD recovery in early trial
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For millions of people living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), effective treatments can be elusive, and full recovery often feels out of reach. But a promising new therapy developed by researchers in Texas could be changing that narrative—by Read More...
Chimpanzees combine sounds like language pros, revealing surprising vocal complexity
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the lush forests of Taï National Park in Côte d’Ivoire, a remarkable form of communication rings out. Barks, grunts, screams, and hoots echo through the trees—and, as it turns out, these aren't just random noises. Chimpanzees are crafting meaningful Read More...
Scientific societies take charge as U.S. climate report faces political uncertainty
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When leadership falters, science finds a way forward. That’s the message from two of America’s most prominent scientific societies, which have pledged to carry on critical climate research after the Trump administration sidelined the team behind the Read More...
Diabetes deaths decline post-pandemic, marking hopeful progress in U.S. health trends
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM After a sharp rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, diabetes-related deaths in the United States are beginning to fall again, according to new provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The figures suggest a return to a more Read More...