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.
Meet the new (green) power couple: Solar Panels + Arid Farms
Renewable energy and sustainable food production are both in high demand as we move into a future of changing climate and growing population. But how do we allocate space for solar energy production and farmland when they both demand similar geographic conditions? Agrivoltaics, the process of Read More...
Is aging reversible? A new study says maybe it is.
Aging can be measured by more than just the candles on our birthday cake. It can also be measured through chemical changes in our DNA - what scientists call “biomarkers”. But what happens if we alter this process at a cellular level? Can we stop aging in its tracks? In a Benjamin Read More...
KitKat’s new wrapper quits single use plastic… and challenges your origami skills
Getting corporations to join the fight against single-use plastics often takes more than a desire to help the environment. It also takes economic and marketing incentives. Food and drink giant Nestlé seems to have found a strategy for reducing plastic use and increase sales: paper packaging that Read More...
Bees could play a big role in eliminating the need for spraying pesticides
Bees are great at retrieving tiny cargo: their main job is to visit flowering plants in order to gather pollen and nectar for their hive. Now one pesticide company has gained federal permission to ensure they’re bringing something special along on each trip. The Canadian-based company Bee Read More...
Dutch care home helps seniors combat loneliness by housing them with students
It’s worse for you than obesity and is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness is becoming an increasing problem in the West, especially among the elderly. In the Netherlands, though, an innovative scheme is experimenting with a solution. The Humanitas care home in Read More...
Study finds self-administered acupressure can help ease your back pain
You’d be surprised how much relief you can bring to your aching back without having to seek professional help. In a new study from the University of Michigan, researchers found out that self-administered acupressure can alleviate chronic pain in the back. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, Read More...
Denmark takes the lead in the fight against chemicals in food packaging
It’s no surprise that food packaging carries a lot of toxins that shouldn’t be so close to our food. PFAs chemicals (perfluoroalkyl substances), also known as “forever chemicals”, are used to repel moisture in packaging for typically oily and fatty foods. Unfortunately, they are also linked Read More...
How taking a break can reinvigorate creativity and boost productivity
In today’s world, we have created a culture where to be constantly productive is equivalent to being successful. We apologize over lunch with a friend when the cell vibrates, as if being always available for work or other “emergencies” means we really do matter. Even if it also means we just Read More...
How soil restoration will play a critical role in the future of global food systems
What’s the secret to feeding a global population that will reach 10 billion by 2050? Earth and Space Sciences professor David R. Montgomery says soil restoration is the answer. Unfortunately, one-third of the world’s population already suffers from the effects of degraded soil caused by Read More...
Sage and respected: Positive words linked to positive outcomes as we grow older
Aging is often associated with unpleasant side effects: achy joints, forgetfulness, limited mobility. But one technique that has proven to make a difference and improve the lived experience of growing older is “positivity”. Psychologist Becca Levy studies the correlation between attitudes Read More...