Today’s Solutions: February 15, 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.

Elderly people sitting and laughing on a couch at home

9 home interior design tips for longevity

The lives and habits of those who live in Blue Zones, otherwise known as the regions where the longest-living people on the planet live, have always fascinated us at The Optimist Daily. We’ve already shared stories about how Blue Zone dwellers drink alcohol, eat, and sit, and now, to add to this Read More...

people clink glasses together

Think while you drink—the case for mindful drinking

Many of us have probably found ourselves waking up to a splitting headache and an impossibly dry mouth after a night of celebratory drinking that makes us tell ourselves that we will never drink again. While the drama of this moment may fade with the hangover, the overall sentiment of wanting to Read More...

New York City buildings from below

New York City bans the use of fuel-burning systems in new construction

Following in the footsteps of green cities like San Francisco, New York City voted last week to pass a bill that will ban fuel-burning systems, like stoves and heaters, from all new construction. A huge source of emissions and indoor air pollution, gas stoves are being replaced with electric models Read More...

T cells attacking cancer cell.

The link between asthma and brain tumors revealed

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is painful and inconvenient. People with the illness suffer from inflamed airways which become narrow, making it difficult to breathe, talk, and be active. Despite these downsides, sufferers may have just caught a lucky break, with a new study linking people Read More...

Hydra vulgaris floating in front of a black background.

Headless Hydras: Unlocking the secrets behind their immortality

What are hydras? Scientists often take inspiration from nature to tackle problems facing human kind. The latest case of this is a study looking at Hydra vulgaris, a marine animal that is considered immortal! The tube-shaped creatures are one to three centimeters long. They reside in freshwater, Read More...

Ella Lambert poses with volunteer for period poverty Pachamama project

Meet Ella Lambert, the 21-year-old student fighting period poverty

Ella Lambert, a 21-year-old student in the UK, knows what it’s like to be limited because of her period. “I’ve always struggled with period pain, like absolutely atrocious period pain which would mean that I’d have to miss out on school and cancel plans last minute,” she says. Her Read More...

Biracial man administered eye drops to himself

These FDA-approved eyedrops offer an alternative to reading glasses

Glasses be gone! The first FDA-approved eye drops that clear up age-related blurry near vision (presbyopia) have been introduced to the market in the US, which means that the estimated 128 million Americans affected by the common condition of presbyopia now have an alternative to reading Read More...

Headshot of Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram

Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram is making safe surgery more equitable

Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram attributes her concern for medical inequity to her exposure to war-torn Lebanon as a child. There she saw how people suffered because they lived in inaccessible places, didn’t have the opportunity to connect with highly specialized medical professionals, or couldn’t Read More...

Bus under live oaks in Florida street

These 17 “super trees” make cities vastly more livable

Creating more green space in urban areas is a highly effective way to lower temperatures and improve health outcomes during heat waves, but when it comes to tree planting in cities, not all trees are created equal. Research from Rice University finds that 17 “super trees” are most powerful in Read More...

young student pumps hand sanitizer into his hands

Why hand sanitizer dries out your skin (and what to do about it)

Hand sanitizer greets us at the entrance of gyms, convenience stores, offices, and has become the centerpiece of tables at restaurants. It’s become an essential accessory that everyone wants to have on hand (no pun intended) and is even more important as we head out in public more often. While Read More...