Today’s Solutions: January 17, 2025

Education

Great minds lead to great solutions. Our education section features solutions and innovations directed at strengthening educational systems around the world.

stressed female employee have anxiety attack at workplace

8 strategies to handle back-to-office stress and anxiety

After having endured two years of pandemic restrictions and finally getting accustomed to working from home (which of course, has its own set of challenges), transitioning back to the office may be harder than anticipated. This study by McKinsey reveals that as many as one in three employees Read More...

Baltimore Internet

Baltimore aims to expand public internet access with city-owned network

State and local governments are coming to appreciate the internet for what it is: an essential utility. With much of the workforce working from home and children going to school online, reliable internet is vital for workers in all sectors of the economy.  In the wake of successful programs Read More...

Roman Road

Roman road in Wales shows farther reach of the ancient empire

We don’t get to venture into the annals of history much at The Optimist Daily. Every once in a while, though, archaeologists discover something truly newsworthy. These include treasures discovered beneath the floors of Notre Dame during its reconstruction, or new burial sites in Egypt upending Read More...

Happy Cow

This device helps farmers raise happier, healthier cows

Dairy farmers have a regular problem when it comes to testing their cows’ health and the quality of their milk. They have to ship milk samples to labs for each cow and wait on the results.  Two MIT alumni aim to help with their new device which gives the same results in 10 minutes.  Testing Read More...

Older Drive

This simple driving questionnaire could make older adults safer

Sometimes, one of the biggest impediments to driver safety is an assessment of one’s own ability. North Carolina State University has tested its proof-of-concept of a simple questionnaire that predicts which drivers are most at risk of having an accident.  “We developed the tool called the Read More...

Electric eel

How fish evolved to generate electricity, and how it can save lives

You’ve heard of electric eels shocking their prey, but did you know they also use their electricity to communicate and recognize other fish? Eels aren’t the only electric fish in the sea. There are several other species of electric fish, and biologists have often wondered about this Read More...

The VEST “hackathon”: desi

The VEST “hackathon”: designing safety vests for everyone

Despite its importance, a lot of construction wear isn’t made for comfort, especially if you don’t have a “default male body”. With a wide range of body types in the construction industry and its growing diversity, construction wear seems to operate on a one-size-fits-all standard, even Read More...

Senior woman doing woodwork in a workshop.

The surprising benefits of woodworking

The historical practice of woodworking is believed to have started thousands of years ago in ancient Chinese and Egyptian civilizations, as seen in drawings and artifacts preserved in tombs. Since then, the skill has grown into a hobby and evolved thanks to advances in modern technology. Of Read More...

Changing lives with Debate Mat

Changing lives with Debate Mate

For London trial attorney, Margaret McCabe, debate changed her life. It gave her the confidence to appear in court, to talk, and to argue for a living. She decided to bring debating to youth in London and started the nonprofit Debate Mate.  We sat down with McCabe, founder and CEO of Debate Read More...

someone making banana peel compost

Simple tips for making homemade fertilizer

Making fertilizer at home is a great option for home gardeners who want to find ways to repurpose their waste and reduce their consumption habits. Making your own fertilizer is the more environmentally friendly choice as it could save you a trip to the store and you avoid the bags and plastic Read More...