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New Pfizer data shows potential benefits of third Covid-19 vaccine
Many vaccines, like that for tetanus, require booster shots to remain effective throughout a person’s lifetime. With the rise of the Delta variant, many experts believe that Covid-19 vaccine booster shots could offer improved protection from current and future mutations. Now, new data released by Read More...
A new digitization project preserves LGBTQ history across the USA
Eric Gonzaba, a trained historian and professor of American Studies at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), is on a mission to uncover and digitally preserve the hidden stories of queer history throughout the nation. The project, which is co-led by Amanda Regan, a lecturer in the Read More...
UC Santa Barbara professors win MacArthur endowment for racial justice project
Following a mass shooting at UC Santa Barbara in 2014, the campus began looking for new ways to rebuild community and trust. Professor Jeffrey Stewart decided to use his experience with the history of jazz to create a safe space for community growth. Partnering with Professor Victor Rios, the pair Read More...
This Washington state county is the first in US to ban fossil fuel infrastructure
Whatcom county’s city council has approved a landmark environmental measure banning all new fossil fuel infrastructure including refineries and coal-fired power plants. The climate action policy was unanimously approved by the council and also requires existing fossil fuel companies to offset any Read More...
Pink offers to pay Norwegian women's beach handball team's bikini fine
Last week, the European Handball Federation (EHF) fined the Norwegian women’s beach handball team more than $1,700 after the female athletes protested sexist uniform rules by competing in shorts rather than in bikini bottoms. According to the EHF, the women played in “improper clothing,” and Read More...
This app recognizes bird songs in the name of conservation
Our world has lost a third of bird populations since 1970, but unlike elephants and pandas which are constantly referenced in discussions surrounding species loss, many people don’t even realize how quickly avian species are disappearing. Fortunately, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is working to Read More...
The Olympic Games showcase Japan’s ‘hydrogen economy’
When Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic flame in Japan last week, it not only marked the start of the Olympic Games, but also showcased the increasingly important role that hydrogen plays in the country’s drive towards a greener future. For the first time ever, hydrogen is powering both the Olympic Read More...
Basel knows how to increase urban green space: make it mandatory
Research shows that urban greenspace not only enhances air quality but also supports biodiversity and the mental health of residents. The city of Basel, Switzerland has successfully interjected greenery into its concrete jungle by making urban greenery (and all of its benefits) a legal requirement Read More...
Zelp makes methane-reducing masks for cows
We at The Optimist Daily have written extensively about the numerous ways in which the beef and dairy industry can clean up their act with solutions like seaweed-supplemented feeds and plant-based food alternatives. These days, veganism and vegetarianism are gaining more popularity as we become Read More...
Meet Pattie Gonia, the environmentalist drag queen fighting for inclusivity
The climate movement could use all the help it can get, and environmentalist drag queen Pattie Gonia is determined to make sure it can by pushing for it to be more inclusive. Pattie uses her Instagram account, which has more than 300,000 followers, to challenge what a conventional climate Read More...