Teaching & Learning
Education propels change. Stay up to date on the latest educational developments near you and around the world from preschool to post-grad. Here, you'll find out why equitable quality education is essential for fostering healthy and resilient societies.
Keeping homes cool in hot, dry climates—lessons from ancient civilizations
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As global temperatures rise and power outages become more common, particularly during severe heat waves, current building designs become increasingly vulnerable. Glass façades, sealed windows, and dependency on air conditioning render most modern Read More...
Belong is an intergenerational housing solution to combat loneliness among older adults
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As society faces the challenges of an aging population, new housing concepts are emerging that promise to address one of the most important issues of older adults: loneliness. One such option is intergenerational housing, which combines senior living Read More...
Helping young people of color navigate the music industry with Carnegie Hall's The B-Side
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the iconic setting of Carnegie Hall, a remarkable initiative is taking shape, one that seeks to bridge the stark gap between the industry's diverse musical talent and its predominantly white leadership. The B-Side, a program specifically developed to Read More...
France will test a nationwide mobile phone ban for students under the age of 15
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In an ambitious bid to reduce excessive screen time among young children, France plans to trial a mobile phone ban in over 200 secondary schools. This plan, which will compel students to relinquish their phones upon arriving at school, expands on the existing Read More...
Using the Paralympics to encourage conversations about limb differences with kids
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Children are naturally curious about the world around them, especially the people that cross their paths. When kids observe someone whose body looks different from theirs, such as a person with a limb difference, they are more prone to ask questions—often Read More...
Saturn at its brightest: a stargazer's guide to 'Saturn at opposition'
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM This week provides a rare opportunity for stargazers. Saturn will be at opposition on the night of September 7-8, offering the greatest time of year to see the ringed planet. When Saturn is in opposition, Earth is squarely between Saturn and the Sun, making Read More...
University students transform workouts into power with energy-generating gym equipment
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Imagine getting on the treadmill and knowing that every stride you take burns calories and helps keep the lights on. At Brown University, this is exactly what is happening. The Nelson Fitness Center has transformed exercise into a green energy initiative, Read More...
Statue of late civil rights leader John Lewis replaces Confederate monument in Georgia
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A monument honoring the life and work of civil rights icon John Lewis was unveiled in Decatur, Georgia, marking a major step in confronting America's racial past. For more than a century, a Confederate obelisk stood in the square where the new memorial now Read More...
Is your home at risk for natural disasters? Here's what to do if it is
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Extreme weather events are becoming more commonplace thanks to climate change. For homeowners and for those on the market, considering a home’s potential vulnerability to natural disasters is becoming a top priority. Proximity to work and good schools, or Read More...
Do you have mushrooms on your lawn? Here's why that's a good thing
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Bright red toadstools, strange jelly fungus, and round puffball mushrooms growing in your lawn may appear worrisome at first glance. But, according to horticultural experts, mushrooms in your lawn are a good sign of soil health. Understanding the presence of Read More...