Today’s Solutions: August 23, 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.

person holds knee in pain joint pain

Injectable hydrogel can help chronic pain in joints

Most young people hardly think about their joints. They wonder why adults may groan as they pull themselves up from the couch, wince while climbing steep stairs, or say something along the lines of “oh, my knees!” at random—until, that is, the day inevitably comes when they experience joint Read More...

Raw beef filet mignon arranged neatly on a wooden cutting board next to red peppers and salt

The best steak now has a tasty plant-based alternative

In recent years, an increasing number of startups have started working on accelerating the evolution of plant-based meat alternatives into something that consumers wouldn’t be able to tell apart from the real thing. Few, however, have ventured to find a substitute for more high-profile meat cuts Read More...

Bees pollinating

Colorado drafts bill to save its bees

Did you know that bees and other insects like them pollinate nearly three-quarters of the plants that produce 90 percent of the world’s food? Bees are a small insect that play a big role in their environments. They work to improve plant life, biodiversity, and even our own food supply.  A Read More...

Kids learning happily online

Cyberbullying decreased sharply during the pandemic

Despite what you might have thought, when many schools closed for remote learning during the Pandemic, parents, teachers, and students alike were relieved to find that cyberbullying actually decreased by a lot.  A new study from Boston University has found that cyberbullying fell by between 30 Read More...

Asian woman sits on bed and coughs

Anti-inflammatory molecule could revolutionize asthma treatment

People with asthma will often suffer, at varying degrees, from symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheeziness, and bouts of coughing that stem from overactivation of the immune system when exposed to allergens like dust, smoke, and pollution. Many of us may actually remember having asthma as a Read More...

Man suffering from itching skin wearing a black t shirt.

How do we measure itchiness?

Doctors commonly ask their patients to rate their pain from one to 10, although it is rare that we would be asked to scale our itchiness in this way. Gauging an itch Some readers may be wondering, why do we even need an itchiness scale? If you've ever had a condition which causes you to Read More...

Water droplets on Lotus leaf, the inspiration for RepelWrap, a novel repellent material

This novel pathogen-repellent material is inspired by lotus leaves

Here at The Optimist Daily, we like to keep our readers informed about new innovative materials that are being developed, such as roads made from diaper pellets, ultra-strong glass inspired by mollusk shells, and even solar capture materials that can be integrated into clothing. This time, Read More...

meal cooked in cast iron pan

Can a cast iron pan boost your iron intake? A dietitian weighs in

Cast iron cookware has a great reputation in the kitchen. You can use it for a multitude of cooking techniques from browning meat and veggies to baking bread, to slow-cooking flavorful stews. Did you know, though, that anything you cook in cast iron might actually increase your daily iron Read More...

New blood vessel formation, 3d illustration.

Doctors can see blood vessels in new ways with this technique

Imaging blood vessels is harder than you might think. Information about the surrounding structures and cells in the tissue have to be imaged multiple times, at multiple angles, and in multiple conditions. This layered process leaves scientists having to piece together separate images and Read More...

woman's hands apply sunscreen to arm

Squid-inspired device warns you when you've had too much sun

Spring is just around the corner—but before we get too excited to throw on our swimsuits and sunbathe in the park, it’s important to remember that we have to be careful when it comes to sun exposure.  Even though those lovely warm rays may feel great against bare shoulders, it’s been well Read More...