Today’s Solutions: December 16, 2025

Lifestyle

Alongside taking care of other people and the planet, make sure you take good care of yourself. The Lifestyle section at the Optimist Daily has solutions for everyday wellbeing on topics like food, beauty, fashion, and the latest trends. Curious about caring for houseplants, eating plant-based, or parenting tips? It’s all in there.

Could a text message improve t

Could a text message improve the lives of 1million farmers worldwide?

If you were self-employed and had a problem at work, what would you do?  In the Western world, where almost everyone has access to the internet, you would probably Google your dilemma. Or if you need to get in touch with an expert or one of your peers, you would simply look their details up Read More...

Follow the sun for clean water

Follow the sun for clean water

If you’re a girl, you’ve definitely followed the sun while tanning. Always making sure your towel faced the sun in a straight angle, guaranteeing optimal sun exposure and minimal shade lines. It’s quite possible Eden Full and her girlfriends used to do this as well, and maybe this is even Read More...

Newsstands in Australia are go

Newsstands in Australia are going to sell Bitcoin for cash

Digital “cryptocurrencies” like Bitcoin are going to transform our societies even more fundamentally than sharing economy initiatives as Uber and Airbnb are already doing because we all use money every day. Digital money still seems far away. However, Australians will soon be able to Read More...

Paris store keepers launch ini

Paris store keepers launch initiative to support homeless

Small businesses in Paris have formed a network to support the homeless in the city. For homeless people, asking for a drink or food is demoralizing, since most individuals react negatively. The new network has introduced the Carillon stickers that let those in need know that they can ask for a Read More...

A new journalism startup in Ho

A new journalism startup in Hong Kong is betting the public will pay for unbiased news

Starting an independent news service in today’s media environment would be a challenge anywhere. In Hong Kong, it seems like a singularly bad idea. The quality and independence of the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s main English-language paper, is widely perceived to have declined Read More...

Biodegradable plastic that sol

Biodegradable plastic that solves the methane problem

While we’re exceptionally thorough in making sure our plastic waste fills every corner of the earth, we’re simultaneously shockingly effective in allowing methane gas to burn away the ozone layer. It’s impressive really. But perhaps more impressive is how Mango Materials is tackling both our Read More...

Research shows that alcohol do

Research shows that alcohol does make you happy

Drinking too much is bad for you. Period. However, research shows that, for instance, moderate drinking of wine has substantial health benefits. Now a new study finds that drinking also increases happiness (you thought so). Researchers in the U.K. set out to quantify the happiness boost you get Read More...

Africans are now living 10 yea

Africans are now living 10 years longer than in 2000

This is remarkable news about Africa. According to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO) life expectancy on the continent has increased considerably. In 2000 the average African was expected to live to 50; in 2015, an African was expected to live almost 10 years longer. The WHO report Read More...

One of the world’s most

One of the world's most expensive countries is debating giving away money

The Swiss are discussing paying people $2,500 a month for doing nothing.The country will vote June 5 on whether the government should introduce an unconditional basic income to replace various welfare benefits. Although the initiators of the plan haven’t stipulated how large the payout should Read More...

A crowdfunded venture fund wit

A crowdfunded venture fund with $150 million virtual capital challenges investing as we know it

Digital money driven by the power of the Internet is going to upset traditional finance much like the online sharing economy is transforming the taxi and hotel industries. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are the first examples of a wave that’s gradually building and that has the potential to Read More...