Today’s Solutions: February 13, 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.

image of doctor's torso with hands shaped as a heart

UK surgeons perform first carbon-neutral operation

Healthcare and sustainability have been at the forefront of global discussion lately. Doctors at the UK’s Solihull Hospital in the West Midlands have accomplished something that prioritizes both of these major issues: the world’s first “net-zero” surgery. To take care of patients Read More...

Crops

Stanford study shows cleaner air leads to more crops

Fertile soil, good seasons, and plentiful water aren’t the only things that affect our crops. Air pollution, and one air pollutant in particular, negatively affect the number of crops we can grow.  Using satellite imaging, Stanford researchers discovered just how many nitrogen oxides affect Read More...

Changing lives with Debate Mat

Changing lives with Debate Mate

For London trial attorney, Margaret McCabe, debate changed her life. It gave her the confidence to appear in court, to talk, and to argue for a living. She decided to bring debating to youth in London and started the nonprofit Debate Mate.  We sat down with McCabe, founder and CEO of Debate Read More...

3 Functional foods for all-day

3 Functional foods for all-day energy

You have a busy life, and now that the weather is nicer and Covid-19 restrictions are loosening up, you will likely find yourself with a busier schedule. How can you be sure that you’re fueling your body with food that will elevate your energy and sustain you with continuous strength? According Read More...

Smiling calm young woman relaxing on comfortable wooden rocking chair in living room.

10 simple things you can do to boost your mood (according to experts)

All of us have days when it's hard to get out of bed, and it feels like nothing we do makes a difference. These ups and downs are part of life but learning how to cope with the down days can benefit our entire life, even when we wake up happy. Since The Optimist Daily is all about supporting a Read More...

Close up of nurse pointing at spine bones on human skeleton to explain diagnosis.

Gene therapy could effectively treat chronic pain from spinal injuries

Gene therapy is a growing field of medicine with enormous treatment potential for many currently incurable diseases. Scientists have so far created gene therapies to tackle a range of diseases, including the leading cause of blindness, sickle cell anemia, and a range of rare genetic Read More...

The case for setting “rest g

The case for setting “rest goals,” and how to do it

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM While living amid a fast-paced environment that has historically stressed productivity and progress, setting rest goals might feel a bit counterintuitive. Most of our goals are centered around doing or accomplishing something. Your goals might involve Read More...

British Columbia

British Columbia decriminalizes small amounts of drugs to reduce deaths

Opioid-related deaths linked to fentanyl have more than doubled in Canada over the last five years. British Columbia has been one the hardest-hit regions, with deaths spiking during the Pandemic, and has asked for federal permission to decriminalize drugs.  The government is now launching an Read More...

Coffee

Study suggests lower risk of early death for coffee drinkers

The United States drinks around 517 million cups of coffee every day. While caffeine can be a tough habit to kick, researchers are finding more and more health benefits to coffee. Health advantages range from reduced risk of heart attacks to treatment for ADHD.  Now, researchers in China found Read More...

Man in grey t shirt isolated against yellow background smelling something stinky and disgusting.

New study sniffs out cause of parosmia, disordered smells

What’s your favorite smell? Is it the whiff of freshly ground coffee in the morning or blossoms in spring? Whatever it may be, imagine a world where this sense is distorted and sometimes disturbing. This is the reality for people living with parosmia, a disease that can turn the smell of freshly Read More...