Trending
Mayors from 12 major cities commit to divesting from fossil fuels
Investing in green initiatives could accelerate an economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, but if the federal government isn’t willing to divest from fossil fuels, then it’s up to local governments to do so. Recently, mayors of 12 major cities signed C40’s “Divesting from Fossil Read More...
Humpback whales in Alaska are enjoying the cruise ship-free waters
Alaska is usually overwhelmed with cruise ships and tourists in the summertime, but not this year. Tourism has come to a grinding halt due to the pandemic, and while it has been a disaster for the local economy, the state’s humpback whales seem to be enjoying the calm waters. Dr. Michelle Read More...
Time lapse: This supernova was 5 billion times brighter than the sun
For all you space geeks, we have something dazzling for you. The Hubble Space Telescope recorded footage of a supernova exploding in the sky over the course of a year, creating one of the brightest light shows ever seen. In fact, the exploding star burned at the radiance of 5 billion suns before Read More...
Starlink is bringing internet to fire-ravaged parts of rural Washington
SpaceX announced plans to build Starlink, their globe-spanning constellation of tiny internet-providing satellites, in 2015. Although just 700 of the planned 40,000 are in orbit, they are playing a critical role in a small Washington town ravaged by wildfire. A fast-moving wildfire destroyed Read More...
Why protein intake is critical to healthy aging
Getting enough protein is important at all ages, but as we get older, this nutrient becomes even more critical. Protein serves to help us recover, repair damage to our bodies, and give us energy throughout the day. We get weaker as we age, and upping protein intake can help slow the aging Read More...
Why it’s extra important to get your flu shot this year
In the northern hemisphere, flu season peaks from December to February with 40 million to 50 million Americans contracting the virus on average. This year, because of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to get your flu shot. You might ask, I’m not leaving my house or seeing other Read More...
Seattle protects Uber and Lyft drivers with new gig economy wages
The gig economy is growing, but these workers are not always guaranteed the same protections as employees in more traditional roles. In a move to protect these workers, the city of Seattle has passed a new wage scale for Uber and Lyft drivers, including a $16.39 minimum wage, to ensure their wages Read More...
Adding floating solar to hydropower plants would create an energy boom
A new study suggests there is a way to make hydropower plants produce more energy: placing floating solar panels on the reservoirs of hydropower plants. According to a new analysis of the energy potential of combining these facilities with floating solar panels, scientists calculated that these Read More...
Yes! Fat Bear Week is back again
2019 marked the first time The Optimist Daily became familiar with the furry phenomenon that is Fat Bear Week. If you aren’t familiar with Fat Bear Week, let us enlighten you: it’s a whole week dedicated to the brown bears of Katmai National Park in Alaska, who have been eating nonstop before Read More...
California to produce its own generic drugs to take down big pharma
Whereas one vial of insulin costs about $30 in Canada, that same vial can go for as much as $450 in the US. This is just one example of the sky-high prices of prescription drugs in America, which have risen three times faster than inflation over the past decade. And while generic drugs can help Read More...