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Sounds and smells in the French countryside are now protected by law
From the crowing of roosters to the distinctive barnyard whiff, France’s countryside sounds and smells are now officially protected by law. The European country has recently passed a bill that protects the “sensory heritage” of its rural areas. The move came following an increasing number of Read More...
Magnesium promotes healthy sleep. Here’s four great ways to get it
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Magnesium is not only great for essential bodily functions like protein synthesis and muscle regeneration. It also promotes better sleep! If you are due for a better night of sleep, here are four magnesium-rich foods to incorporate into your daily Read More...
Trained dogs will be sniffing out Covid-19 at NBA game
Back in September, we shared a story about the Helsinki airport deploying dogs to sniff out covid-19. Now, the Miami Heat basketball team will use the same strategy to offer a safer in-person basketball experience to a limited number of fans. The team of dedicated pups has been training for Read More...
White House press briefings will now be offered in American Sign Language
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced this week that press briefings will be getting an inclusive upgrade with the addition of an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter at every briefing. The first signed briefing took place last Monday with an interpreter, identified as Heather, Read More...
German city builds sleeping pods to shelter homeless people from the cold
In the German city of Ulm, 75 miles west of Munich, people who don’t have a roof over their head can now benefit from a thoughtful initiative — the installation of a series of pods around the city for homeless people to be able to sleep in. Called Ulmer Nests, the sleeping pods are made of Read More...
Renewables surpassed fossil fuels in Europe for the first time in 2020
If you would have told us back in 2015 that Europeans would get more of their electricity from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels in five years' time, we wouldn’t have believed you. Sure, we are optimistic, but such growth in the renewable energy sector seemed unprecedented at that point Read More...
Moderna is using mRNA technology to develop an HIV vaccine
mRNA vaccine technology provided a breakthrough in the search for a covid-19 vaccine, and researchers are hopeful it could offer a solution for treating other diseases as well. Pharmaceutical company Moderna has announced plans to use this mRNA technique to attempt to create the first vaccine for Read More...
Study: Exercise prompts muscles to fight inflammation on their own
That exercise is good for the body in all kinds of ways is a given, but researchers are only just uncovering a rather surprising effect that exercise has on muscles. Apparently, exercise prompts muscle cells to fight off inflammation on their own. Scientists at Duke University have been Read More...
How the kulhad, a relic of India’s past, can help eliminate single-use plastic
Traditional clay teacups called kulhads will be making an impactful comeback in 7,000 railway stations across India. Kulhads are 100 percent environment-friendly, unpainted, and unglazed. The clay’s natural, earthy fragrance is said to enhance the flavor of the tea, while evoking memories of Read More...
The public now has a direct say on climate matters in Washington state
Oftentimes it feels like regular citizens have little to no say in national or state-level politics. That’s why we’re excited to share news out of Washington state where a new assembly is being formed that will allow 80 randomly-selected members of the public to have a direct say on climate Read More...