Today’s Solutions: February 14, 2026

Health

Finding good health news amidst a pandemic can be quite daunting. That’s not the case with The Optimist Daily, where positive news is in high supply. Our Health section covers the latest good news from the health sector, featuring solutions ranging from mental and physical health to immunity, nutrition, and cutting edge medical research.

Somali women smiling into the camera

All-women news source launches in Somalia to cover inequality

Journalism used to be called the Fourth Estate, referring to its political and societal influence within a country. It has the power to expose injustices and sound a call to action from the people. Finding solutions to endemic problems often starts by identifying them in the media. For a fair Read More...

Photo of a Finnish Lapphund dog jumping over obstacle in agility course.

How to overcome the 5 mental obstacles that stand in the way of happiness

In the book "The Five Hurdles to Happiness", author Mitch Ablett sets off to describe five reactive mental habits originally identified in ancient meditative traditions. Though these habits evolved for important reasons—to keep us safe from danger, for example—many of us find them less than Read More...

Aging balance puzzles

Research finds your brain health now could affect your balance later

It should be our goal, everyone’s goal, to live long and to live well. Investing in your later years doesn’t just mean putting away and investing money or buying a house. It means strengthening our relationships, staying mentally and physically active, and utilizing preventative health care. As Read More...

Group of chimpanzees sitting together in a tree

Scientists finally crack the origin of malaria-causing parasites

Malaria is one of the oldest diseases to have affected our primate ancestors, even long before homo sapiens ever existed. Sadly, it is extremely deadly in humans, so scientists around the world are always searching for innovative ways to tackle the disease, such as vaccines or even genetically Read More...

Psilocybin

Psilocybin therapy can positively change our thinking patterns

Mushrooms are "magic" in more ways than one. They improve long term brain health, they can break down plastic waste, and they afford incredible neural communication between forest plant systems. Another benefit of mushrooms, with a growing body of research, is how certain types can help fight Read More...

Illustration of person reading the news.

How to practice news-resilience in a world of negativity bias

It’s well known that humans have an ingrained negativity bias, where negative events more significantly impact our psychological state than positive events. This tendency toward gloom is also reflected in media, with a study from The New York Times revealing mainstream media outlets carry a Read More...

People holding their hands together to hold a jigsaw of a face with a puzzle piece to represent the international effort of the schizophrenia study.

Largest study on schizophrenia reveals genetic secrets

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that impacts one in 300 people globally. The condition mainly starts to appear in late adolescence and early adulthood, causing a wide range of symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, abnormal motor behavior, Read More...

Berry smoothie

From the Supreme Court to smoothies: 5 favorites from our optimist editor-in-chief

The Optimist Daily is all about solutions — those that make big impacts in the world as well as those that enhance our daily lives. As solution-seekers, news readers, and good-for-the-world-and-soul product searchers, we often feature discoveries that promise to make our lives better. This week, Read More...

Matcha green tea latte in a cup.

The scoop on matcha tea

If you’re not familiar with matcha, it’s a finely ground powder from dried green tea leaves. Because the matcha leaves grow in shaded bushes, they have increased levels of chlorophyll so they can absorb as much sunlight as possible. This gives the leaves and the drink their eye-catching color. Read More...

Istanbul

This Turkish charity directly connects donors to those in need

Many people couldn’t get by without the invaluable work done by the non-profit sector. Philanthropic organizations the world over, such as the Red Cross or the Halo Trust, provide essential services, effect societal change, and even repair damage from conflicts. In cases of providing funds to Read More...