Art preserves endangered flora in Himalayas—where conservation and culture collide
"In 2002, I was returning to Kalimpong in the eastern Himalaya region of India, and I found numerous trees had been cut down for a dam on the Teesta River at Kalijhora," recalls Hemlata Pradhan, an artist who had just completed her Master's in natural history illustration in London. This shocking Read More...
Italian fisherman uses underwater sculptures to stop trawling
Italian fisherman Paolo Fanciulli had been fishing the waters of the Maremma coastline for almost 40 years. These sea habitats near Tuscany, and Fanciulli’s livelihood, came under threat, however, in the form of illegal trawling, dragging huge nets through the water to catch large amounts of Read More...
New study shows gardening alleviates depression and anxiety
In a new study from the University of Florida, researchers proved that gardening can improve the mental well-being of even healthy people. “Past studies have shown that gardening can help improve the mental health of people who have existing medical conditions or challenges. Our study shows Read More...
A new study reveals how engaging activities reduce loneliness
Loneliness can be a major problem for good mental health and brain health in the long term. Many of us, though, still live alone, and the pandemic and post-pandemic culture have led to sometimes unavoidable periods of loneliness. This doesn’t need to be unhealthy, though. A new study from Read More...
Can NFTs help save the Amazon?
Non-Fungible Tokens, commonly known as NFTs, are crypto-acquired assets in the form of digital art. These “one-of-a-kind” digital pieces rose in popularity last year, with plenty of influential personalities and celebrities purchasing them, often at exorbitant prices. Well, whether you’re Read More...
6 surprising ways to boost your creativity
Creativity is an essential part of problem solving, communication, and for seeing how things are connected. Everyone can benefit professionally or personally from thinking outside the box from time to time. Whether you’re an engineer solving a problem on a medical testing system, a novelist with Read More...
How looking at art can boost problem-solving skills
If you appreciate The Optimist Daily’s focus on solutions, then you’re probably a fan of problem-solving in your own life. Well, if you’re looking for a way to enhance your ability to solve problems, then a trip to an art museum or gallery (in real life or online) can be just what you Read More...
Three fun valentine's day arts & crafts to do with your kids
Valentine’s day is just around the corner, and for parents with young children, this could be a great opportunity to carve out some quality time and get crafty together! Plus, if you’re trying to limit processed sugar in your family, doing arts and crafts with your kids is a much healthier Read More...
Decline in orphanhood as HIV treatment increases
Sub-Saharan Africa was hit by an epidemic of HIV, starting from the 1980s. With it came death, resulting in an increase in orphanhood for the children left behind. Studies have associated individuals left in this situation with an increased rate of adverse mental and physical health Read More...
This is how butterflies could make our future security systems unhackable
Though fingerprint recognition may make us feel like we have control over our privacy when it comes to accessing our electronic devices, much like other modern security labels — like QR codes and electronic passes — our fingerprints are vulnerable to the possibility of being replicated. A Read More...