Attention all stargazers! Geminid meteor shower is set to dazzle tonight's night sky
In the heart of the holiday season and the festive buzz of December, there is yet another event to look forward to: the annual extravaganza, the celestial spectacle—the Geminid meteor shower. A glittering display The skies promise a thrilling show tonight, Wednesday, December 13, through Read More...
Astronomers demand disco balls for science: A shiny spin on solar observation
It’s true that disco balls have had their place in space for decades now. However, some astronomers argue in a new article that disco balls should also be installed in colleges and scientific institutes. Disco balls, as a group of Scandinavian astronomers put it in their yet-to-be-peer-reviewed Read More...
Scientists create the first-ever comprehensive map of an insect brain
According to a new study published in the journal Science, scientists have generated the first complete map of an insect's brain and, critically, all of the synaptic wire that ties it together. The resulting map is known as a connectome, and it is a fundamental piece of neuroscience. "Now we Read More...
The Smithsonian hosts 120 statues of great women in STEM
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Smithsonian decided to commemorate great women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), academic disciplines that have historically been dominated by men by hosting Women’s Futures Month. The most eye-catching Read More...
Alcoholism drug may help restore eyesight
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in adults, and scientists are hard at work finding a cure for it. There are positive strides made every day, and there are all sorts of promising new developments, such as the use of stem cells to recover degenerated eye Read More...
Tiny roundworms could diagnose lung cancer
Early detection is an essential tool for treating cancer. Any time that doctors and technicians can shave off from testing or lab work saves lives. Even better are noninvasive and inexpensive tests, which benefit both the patient and the hospital. The noble nematode You might remember nematodes Read More...
Always growing: a dive back into the marvelous world of mushrooms
“Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom.” - Thomas Carlyle, Scottish philosopher, and essayist Science is ever-changing. Scientists and physicians used to be sure that contagions and diseases were spread from person to person by smell. This was called the Miasma Theory, and Read More...
Can stem cells cure the leading cause of blindness?
We have covered the pursuit for the cure to blindness a great deal at The Optimist Daily. The research and development around retinal implants and gene therapy for blind people is eclectic and ever-growing. Scientists have developed methods in gene editing and even using algae to help people see Read More...
Supporting beavers and our ecosystems
At The Optimist Daily, we’ve written a great deal about the benefits beavers bring to their environment and the importance of restoring their populations in certain areas. Beavers are often vilified in certain communities for the same reason they’re such iconic North American creatures: they Read More...
Yellow-bellied marmots stop aging in hibernation
The Optimist Daily has written a lot about the importance of sleep, how it can renew your energy levels or make you happier. What if we told you that it also halted the aging process? You would have to go into hibernation to make that happen, so it might be a bit out of humans’ reach for now. Read More...