Evergreen
Residents of Punjab see tops of Himalayas for the first time in 30 years
After 21 days in lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, residents in Jalandhar, Punjab were rewarded with a view not seen in 30 years: the tops of the Himalayan Mountain range. Reduced smog and pollution due to national shutdowns have revealed the tops of the mountains, which residents say Read More...
Coffee grounds could skip the landfill to produce eco-friendly bioplastics
The International Coffee Organization estimates that the world produces over 6 million tons of coffee grounds annually, most of which is tossed into the bin once it's used. Looking to find a more useful end life for coffee grounds, scientists at Yokohama National University have examined whether Read More...
COVID-19 and the 5 stages of grief
We are grieving as a nation and as a world. In the very literal sense, we are grieving the thousands of lives lost to COVID-19, but we are also grieving the loss of our normal lives. The loss of work, school, eating out, hugs with friends, travel, and so much more. Assessing our current situation Read More...
Critically endangered turtles hatch undisturbed on people-free beaches
At the start of each April, people on the northeastern shorelines of Brazil can witness the critically-endangered hawksbill sea turtles emerge from their eggs and make their first steps into the waters of the Atlantic. But as people have been advised to stay indoors to slow the spread of the Read More...
An easy method for making your own baking yeast at home
Did you know can make your own baking yeast at home in your own kitchen with ingredients you probably already have on hand? We call bread made with wild homemade yeast “sourdough,” but this at-home version isn’t just for tangy bread. It can be substituted in for packet yeast in pretty much Read More...
Study suggests quick action could successfully restore oceans by 2050
A global team of researchers recently published an article in the scientific journal Nature detailing the state of our ocean's health, and unlike most projections of the ocean’s future health, this paper cautiously explains that we can successfully restore the ocean by 2050—if we act fast. Read More...
Here are some easy recipes for making your own hand sanitizer
By now you must surely be aware that washing your hands clean is necessary to keep you and others protected during the pandemic. You’ve also probably gone through a bottle or two of Purell, and feel a bit tired of buying more expensive hand sanitizers. The good news is you can make your own hand Read More...
10 ways to spot misinformation online
In today's online world, there is a plethora of misinformation around, especially in heightened times of tension. The Optimist Daily is always working hard to ensure that the stories we bring you are verified. Here are 10 ways to spot misinformation online as you browse media sources. Did the post Read More...
MIT to publish free plans online for a cheap emergency ventilator
Imagine a class project from over a decade ago ended up holding the solution to a global issue? Well that's the case for a class of students from MIT, who are drawing from an old project to solve one of the most pressing shortages facing hospitals today: the lack of ventilators. These machines can Read More...
These CEOs gave up their salaries to avoid layoffs and closures
COVID-19 wreaked havoc on our economic system, but some CEOs stepped up and forgoed their own salaries to protect workers from layoffs and store closures. Many key players in the airline industry, which has taken a particularly large hit during the outbreak, sacrificed corporate income for Read More...