Health
Finding good health news amidst a pandemic can be quite daunting. That’s not the case with The Optimist Daily, where positive news is in high supply. Our Health section covers the latest good news from the health sector, featuring solutions ranging from mental and physical health to immunity, nutrition, and cutting edge medical research.
Survey of New York City soil uncovers medicine-making microbes
Microbes have long been an invaluable source of new drugs. And to find more, we may have to look no further than the ground beneath our feet. Researchers at The Rockefeller University have shown that the dirt beneath New York City teems with our tiny allies in the fight against disease. In soil Read More...
Now you can start a strawberry business in a parking lot
Shipping containers have become all the hype in the urban farming world. Startups like Cropbox and Freight Farms are enabling cities all over to grow leafy greens, and now French startup Agricool has developed their own shipping container that can grow strawberries. Using hydroponic growing units, Read More...
How does LSD induce short-term psychosis but long-term optimism?
When most people think of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) the image that comes to mind is hallucinating hippies at Woodstock, but the drug’s Read More...
Here's what placebos can heal—and what they can't
Illness is best cured with drugs. That assumption has prevailed since pharmaceuticals became widely available. But in recent years there has been a growing interest in alternative medicines, many of which employ mental or spiritual powers to heal the body. Now research into the biochemistry of Read More...
Wefood: the Danish supermarket opening its second expired-food branch
It may be past its sell-by date, but for many Danes it’s a tasty proposition: a supermarket in Copenhagen selling surplus food has proved so popular it has now opened a second store. After launching in the district of Amager earlier this year, the Wefood project drew a long line as it opened Read More...
Small farms are just as important as big agriculture in the fight against climate change
Just four days before the US elections, the Paris Agreement officially became international law after receiving formal sign-off from 55 countries that contribute 55% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. This landmark deal marked a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change, particularly Read More...
Gut's microbial community shown to influence host gene expression
In our guts, and in the guts of all animals, resides a robust ecosystem of microbes known as the microbiome. Consisting of trillions of organisms -- bacteria, fungi and viruses -- the microbiome is essential for host health, providing important services ranging from nutrient processing to immune Read More...
The U.S. food industry is moving forward on date labels and food waste
As much as 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. goes to waste. The reasons are all over the map: supply chain inefficiencies, consumers’ insistence that food look perfect, and local regulations that discourage food from being donated to those who need it. One factor, however, is the Read More...
Spotify will help you meditate now
Spotify is looking to make people better, as well as more entertained. The company has launched a new partnership with Headspace, an app meant to help people live "healthier and happier lives". In the new deal, people will be able to suscribe to both of the services for a reduced price. Together, Read More...
Common probiotics can reduce stress levels, lessen anxiety
Probiotics, or beneficial live bacteria that are introduced into the body, have become increasingly popular as a way to improve health and well-being. Previous studies have shown a direct correlation between gut microbes and the central nervous system. Now, researchers at the University of Read More...