Today’s Solutions: February 12, 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.

Happiness and well-being expert shares what actually makes a happier life

Happiness and well-being researcher and author of A Journey for Happiness: The Man Who Cycled to Bhutan Christopher Boyce spent years studying what makes people happy. However, he was still unsure of how to live a happy life himself, until he quit his decade-long career as a happiness academic to Read More...

Psilocybin mushrooms in man's hand on grey background. Psychedelic magic Golden Teacher mushrooms.

Australia is the first nation to acknowledge psychedelics as medicine

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration surprised researchers by approving the psychedelic chemicals found in magic mushrooms and MDMA for use by patients with specific mental health issues, making Australia the first country to recognize psychedelics as medicines. MDMA and psilocybin MDMA Read More...

surgeon doctor filters adipose tissue in syringes, lipofilling fat.

“Biological clothing”— the future of 3D lab-grown skin grafting

The science of bioengineered skin grafting is making remarkable progress thanks to a team at Columbia University, led by Asst. Prof. Hasan Erbil Abaci. Currently, bioengineered skin is only available in flat sheets, which work well for grafting onto generally smooth, featureless body regions, but Read More...

Image of happy young man walking on the street and looking aside while talking by his phone.

What is NEAT and why is it more effective for weight loss than exercise?

"Non-exercise activity thermogenesis," also known as NEAT, is a fancy term for the energy you expend during the day whenever you’re not sleeping, eating, or doing purposeful exercise (like sports or gym workouts). You engage in NEAT by just walking about the house or office, hurrying to catch a Read More...

Portrait of happy young well-slept African American man lying in bed with closed eyes

3 expert-approved ways to deal with middle-of-the-night sleeplessness

We’ve all been there— lying awake in the middle of the night with nothing to keep us company except anxious thoughts and preoccupations like, “How am I going to get through my massive to-do list tomorrow if I’m sleep deprived?” Or, just as distressing, thoughts about the overwhelming Read More...

Full length shot of casually dressed young man working on laptop in modern open plan office sitting on orange circular sofa

An easy hack to counteract the harmful health effects of sitting all day

Humans are not designed to spend the entire day seated. Nonetheless, billions of us do it at least five days per week, as Western work patterns dictate. The health consequences of remaining on our bums all day are significant. According to studies, those who sit for extended durations are more Read More...

Avatar is a 2009 epic science fiction action film being played on tablet

Avatar's motion AI tech helps researchers detect rare diseases

Researchers are using motion capture artificial intelligence technology that brings characters to life in films like Avatar to track the onset of diseases that affect movement, according to a recent BBC article. The new system uses artificial intelligence to analyze body movements and diagnose Read More...

Man riding a bicycle in the park alone, green space

Study shows strong link between green spaces and less prescription drug use

According to new research, visits to parks, community gardens, and other urban green spaces may reduce city inhabitants' use of medicines for anxiety, sleeplessness, melancholy, high blood pressure, and asthma. Researchers in Finland discovered that visiting natural settings three to four times Read More...

Test tube row. Concept of medical or science laboratory

Magnets rapidly remove dangerous "forever chemicals" from water

Australia-based scientists have devised an exciting new method for eliminating dangerous "forever chemicals" from water. When a solution is added to contaminated water, it covers the contaminants and renders them magnetic, allowing them to be easily attracted and isolated. Per- and Read More...

Two vivid laughing young curly haired women in casual clothes chatting

These 3 questions can help you become more likable

It's human nature to want to be liked. We desire connection and relationships, and we appreciate the affirmation and ego boost that comes from knowing that other people enjoy our company. So, it’s no surprise that many are often preoccupied with whether or not people find them likable. If you Read More...