Today’s Solutions: September 21, 2024

Evergreen

Young depressed asian woman hug her friend for encouragement.

Johns Hopkins is offering a free online course in psychological first aid

The pandemic caused a significant rise in anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Isolation, combined with health concerns, social justice frustrations, and economic uncertainty took its toll on all of us. With this in mind, researchers from  Johns Hopkins University started offering Read More...

San Francisco police won’

San Francisco police won't send officers to respond to non-criminal calls

Cities across the US are finally seeing some tangible police reform and defunding changes. San Francisco is joining the movement with their recent announcement that police officers will be replaced with trained, unarmed professionals to respond to calls for help on non-criminal matters involving Read More...

perfect blue eye macro in a sterile environment and perfect vision.

New bionic eye could restore sight and even offer night vision

As we’ve talked about on The Optimist Daily, prosthesis technology has come a long way in recent years, but the human eye has always been difficult to replicate. Now, scientists have designed a prototype for the first 3D artificial bionic eye, which could let users see better than with the real Read More...

Scientists map an entire ancie

Scientists map an entire ancient Roman city using only radar technology

We have previously written about how high-tech laser scanners have enabled scientists to discover the oldest and largest known structure built by the Mayans. Equipped with similar state-of-the-art technology, a group of archaeologists has managed to map an entire ancient Roman city while it’s Read More...

This 9-year-old Kenyan boy bui

This 9-year-old Kenyan boy built a hand-washing machine to fight COVID-19

We have to give credit where it's due when we see ingenuity making a difference in communities. In Kenya, a nine-year-old boy has made a wooden hand-washing machine to help curb the spread of coronavirus. The machine allows users to tip a bucket of water using a foot pedal to avoid touching Read More...

Sign of Paypal at Paypal 's headquarters in Silicon Valley.

PayPal commits to invest $530 million to support minority-owned businesses

Along with elected officials, corporate leaders also have an important role to play when it comes to addressing racial inequality. Now, in the wake of worldwide protests against racial injustice, some of the world’s biggest corporate players are stepping in to support action against this societal Read More...

one of the 2.1 kW systems Native Renewables installed for a family on the Navajo reservation. The system is able to power an energy star rated refrigerator, lights, and small electronics.

A female-led energy company is bringing green power to the Navajo Nation

The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 aimed to erase energy access disparities across the US but left out Native American tribes throughout the country. Lack of energy access still plagues these communities today. According to the American Public Power Association, Native American communities Read More...

How the words of James Baldwin

How the words of James Baldwin can help guide us towards racial justice

Protests in the name of George Floyd have served as a vital moment of contemplation and introspection, for asking ourselves the tough questions we often avoid: How does my own racial bias operate? How can I amplify black voices? There are many questions, but the answers aren’t always so Read More...

Racism Sesame Street special.

Educating kids: Sesame Street addresses racism in 60-minute TV special

There are a few topics that are difficult to explain to children. When it comes to racism, Sesame Street is here to lend a helping hand. On Saturday, June 6, 2020, the kids' television show Sesame Street teamed up with CNN to broadcast a 60-minute special titled “Coming Together: Standing Up Read More...

Image of dumbo octopus discovered in the depths of the Indian Ocean.

Scientists may have found a new species of octopus 4 miles below the surface

The deepest depths of our oceans are some of the most mysterious places on the planet. Little is known about the expansive seafloor, but scientists are constantly finding out more about bottom dwellers that inhabit this environment. More than four miles under the Indian Ocean, scientists managed Read More...