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This startup has a simple plan to de-risk small-scale African farming
African agriculture, especially small farms, have not had it easy over the past few years. Droughts, pests, floods, and local conflict have exacerbated challenges for many food producers. This is why insurtech startup Pula is working to provide small farmers with insurance to help manage the Read More...
Two historic New York City bridges to feature designated cycling paths
Since the start of the pandemic last year, an increasing number of cities worldwide have seen an uptick in the number of people embracing cycling as a means of transportation. In New York, for example, cycling has increased by 52 percent over the city’s bridges. To recognize the important role Read More...
Planting more trees linked to lower rates of depression in urban areas
We frequently discuss the link between nature and mental health on The Optimist Daily. Another study has emerged solidifying this positive relationship. A study from a team of European researchers has found that more trees planted in a city correlates with fewer antidepressant Read More...
MIT scientists are figuring out how to grow wooden furniture in a lab
We’ve written a whole lot about cell-cultured meat grown in a lab, but today we’re here to tell you about an entirely different lab-grown endeavor: lab-grown wood. In an attempt to mitigate the environmental harm of the logging industry, scientists at MIT are growing wood-like plant tissue from Read More...
A snowy owl has been spotted in Central Park for the first time since 1890
Snowy owls reside in the Arctic for most of the year, but they migrate south in the winter in search of milder climates and more abundant food. These owls are usually sighted in upstate New York, but this year, for the first time since 1890, one has been spotted in New York City’s Central Read More...
Bernie Sanders’ mittens memes help raise over $1.8 million for charities
Unless you do everything in your power to stray away from the Internet, you’ve probably seen the endless memes of the US. Sen. Bernie Sanders sitting with his arms and legs crossed at the recent inauguration, wearing recycled wool mittens, an ordinary brown parka, and a face mask. Sanders was Read More...
US Government to discontinue use of privately-operated prisons
A big hurdle in criminal justice reform in the United States is the abolishment of for-profit private prisons. In a system that already disproportionately convicts and incarcerates people of color, for-profit systems further exploit and profit off this system of injustice. As a major step towards Read More...
Boeing wants all its planes to fly on sustainable fuels by 2030
Aviation giant Boeing announced this week that it wants to have all its aircraft to fly on sustainable fuels by 2030. For safety reasons, the aviation industry regulations currently dictate planes can only use up to a 50/50 blend of conventional jet and sustainable fuels, but Boeing has said it Read More...
Girl Scout Troop 6000 gives support and membership to homeless youth
Girl Scout cookie season is upon us and this year we are sharing the story of a special troop that is offering Scout status to particularly vulnerable children. Troop 6000 was started in 2017 and offers membership to girls in the greater New York area that are or have been homeless. Giselle Read More...
Women tend to have low levels of this key nutrient. Here’s how to fix that
In a recent podcast featured on mindbodygreen, longevity expert Gil Blander, Ph.D. was speaking about nutrient deficiencies when he was asked: Are there any underrated nutrients we're still missing? To this question, Blander responded: “I was surprised to see how often premenopausal women, Read More...