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New in the Netherlands: the singing bike path
Three quarters of the Dutch sing while riding their bikes. In Amsterdam singing is now officially allowed on two bicycle paths. No more awkward pauses in cyclist’s songs because they’re passing one another! As a daily cyclist and former amateur singer this news makes me very happy. And that is Read More...
Chemical waste landfill shutdown in South Africa
Twenty years ago Desmond D’sa quit his job at a chemical factory in Durban, South Africa. The disregard for worker safety at the factory had proved to be too much; D’sa knew something had to change. “There was an overarching disrespect for the chemicals and the dangerous environment we were Read More...
The Intelligent Optimist’s Swing Into Spring Auction ends Tuesday
It’s easier to start swinging after a tune-up, and with that in mind, we have popular favorites from auctions past and brand new items and services to help you take care of yourself or your loved ones or contribute to charitable causes, all backed by the intention of making the world a better Read More...
Sunshine improves survival rate after cancer
We get almost all our vitamin D from the sun, and The Intelligent Optimist has long advocated moderate sun exposure to maintain healthy levels of this essential nutrient. Lack of vitamin D has been linked to a wide range of chronic health problems from allergies to osteoporosis and high blood Read More...
Solid workers
All the ants on earth weigh as much as seven billion people. That calculation comes from German biologist Bert Hölldobler and American biologist Edward Wilson in their book The Ants (1990). Ants are constantly busy, carrying things from here to there without leaving a trace of trash behind. Ants Read More...
Contagiously optimistic: Myrtle Newsam
Sometimes, optimism might seem to be an abstract concept. Here at The Intelligent Optimist, we try to show what an optimistic lifestyle can contribute to your life. And with us, there are many others trying to make optimism visible. One of them is David Mezzapelle, who created the book series Read More...
Simple fitness tests predict longevity
Three simple tests performed in middle age may be able to predict survival in old age. The tests are the strength of one’s grip, speed in rising out of a chair and ability to balance on one leg with the eyes closed. Researchers from University College London looked at how performance on these Read More...
Creating utopia
For more than three decades, villagers in Marinaleda, Spain, have fought a relentless struggle to create utopia. Now, even as Spain’s economic crisis deepens, this village has almost full employment, strong social cohesion and no police. Journalist Dan Hancox wrote a lively, engaging book, The Read More...
Chimneys for a healthier future for the children of India
The boys in this picture live in the center of Dharavi, Mumbai, one of the world’s biggest slums. More than a million people live in Dharavi and it’s an extremely unhealthy place to live because of the severe air pollution. Onno van Schayck, professor of preventative medicine at the University Read More...
We’re getting richer
Think about it: These days, most poor families in the West have phones, TVs, washing machines and cars. The tap water is clean, and the food is safe to eat. We’re not trying to play down the problem of poverty, but these conditions are a vast improvement over those in, say, the 1950s. The value Read More...