Podcast Transcript April 17, 2026— Why you keep falling for the same person, and 9 other things worth discussing this week
Episode Description: This week: a German research team built a water contamination test that runs on a smartphone and gives you an answer in under a minute. A Cornell professor has a gardening trick that involves water, a paper towel, and one night. A Bristol startup figured out what to do with Read More...
Safeguarding Africa's future: 100,000 seeds deposited in Svalbard Vault
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Over 100,000 seeds from 177 species across Africa were recently deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. Often called the "Doomsday Vault," this repository is designed to safeguard the world’s crop diversity in the event of global crises. Read More...
These Indigenous women are helping save endangered coral reefs
Coral reefs are some of the most important ecosystems on the planet. In addition to providing essential habitat for marine life, they also protect coastal areas from waves, storms, and floods, all while providing a key source of income for hundreds of communities around the world. With that said, Read More...
Meet the Sioux Chef who’s putting Native American foods on the menu
Isn’t it ironic that when we think of American cuisine, we rarely, if ever, think of Native American dishes? Sean Sherman, who goes by “The Sioux Chef,” is on a mission to reverse how colonization has erased Native American food from the menu, and instead give it a space to shine. Sherman Read More...
Newly discovered beaked whale is named after Indigenous whale expert
Every deep-sea species discovery serves as a reminder of how much there is yet to be discovered in the depths of our oceans. These discoveries are especially resonant when the new species in question are giant mammals like whales. Now that’s exactly what scientists have recently identified with Read More...
This program bridges the gap between Indigenous knowledge and Western science
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) has launched a new program aimed at bridging the gap between Indigenous knowledge and Western science. Part of the UAF’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, the program offers fellowships to Indigenous graduate students with the goal of researching Read More...
12 Indigenous-owned sustainable businesses you can support
As the original stewards of the land, Indigenous peoples have long been at the forefront of environmental movements, including community sustainability. One way to help the environment on an individual level is to support native-owned businesses that offer consumers sustainable products. Here are Read More...