Today’s Solutions: February 23, 2026

Science

From mathematics and AI to medicine and psychology, The Optimist Daily features the latest news on discoveries, technological advances, and breakthroughs in the world of science. Our Science section is here to engage and enlighten you.

Sorry, not sorry? Science says

Sorry, not sorry? Science says sincerity is in your syllables

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Finding the right words to say "I’m sorry" can be hard—especially if you want the other person to know you really mean it. Fortunately, new research offers some gentle guidance: if you want to sound more sincere, it might help to use longer Read More...

Twice-daily pill offers hope f

Twice-daily pill offers hope for patients in England and Wales with advanced breast cancer

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Thousands of women facing advanced breast cancer in England and Wales are set to gain access to a much-anticipated new treatment — a twice-daily pill that could help slow the spread of the disease and offer precious time. The medication, called capivasertib Read More...

Solar panels to become standar

Solar panels to become standard on new homes in England by 2027 under net zero push

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a major boost to the UK’s net zero goals, the government confirmed that nearly all new homes in England will be built with solar panels by 2027. Under the new policy, housebuilders will be legally required to install rooftop solar as standard during Read More...

How Boise, Idaho is heating hu

How Boise, Idaho is heating hundreds of buildings with clean geothermal energy

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In Boise, Idaho, being in hot water is a good thing — especially when it comes to how the city keeps warm. Home to hundreds of natural hot springs, Boise has tapped into the geothermal potential beneath its feet, creating the largest municipally operated Read More...

Ancient humans may have used s

Ancient humans may have used sunscreen to survive deadly solar radiation

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM With summer around the corner and UV levels on the rise, sunscreen is about to be a seasonal staple for most of us. But if you think the idea of sun protection is a modern invention, think again. New research from the University of Michigan suggests our Read More...

New vagus nerve stimulation tr

New vagus nerve stimulation treatment shows 100 percent PTSD recovery in early trial

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For millions of people living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), effective treatments can be elusive, and full recovery often feels out of reach. But a promising new therapy developed by researchers in Texas could be changing that narrative—by Read More...

Chimpanzees combine sounds lik

Chimpanzees combine sounds like language pros, revealing surprising vocal complexity

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the lush forests of Taï National Park in Côte d’Ivoire, a remarkable form of communication rings out. Barks, grunts, screams, and hoots echo through the trees—and, as it turns out, these aren't just random noises. Chimpanzees are crafting meaningful Read More...

Scientific societies take char

Scientific societies take charge as U.S. climate report faces political uncertainty

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When leadership falters, science finds a way forward. That’s the message from two of America’s most prominent scientific societies, which have pledged to carry on critical climate research after the Trump administration sidelined the team behind the Read More...

Diabetes deaths decline post-p

Diabetes deaths decline post-pandemic, marking hopeful progress in U.S. health trends

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM After a sharp rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, diabetes-related deaths in the United States are beginning to fall again, according to new provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The figures suggest a return to a more Read More...

Meet the man who took 200 snak

Meet the man who took 200 snake bites so science could strike back

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Tim Friede has been bitten by venomous snakes around 200 times and lives to tell the tale. No, not by accident, but on purpose. By cobras, black mambas, kraits, taipans — you name it. He didn’t do it for shock value, though his story is jaw-dropping. He Read More...