The Optimist Today
Does prison architecture have to be cruel? This prison shows us it doesn’t
How should a prison be designed? Should it purposefully be designed to punish inmates using uninviting materials such as steel and concrete, or should it be a place that invites criminals to rehabilitate themselves? While most prisons around the world are designed in a way that aligns with the Read More...
These ingenious shutters keep buildings cool without using energy
Air-conditioning is disastrous for the planet, accounting for 9 percent of all energy consumption in the US on its own. As a means of cutting the fossil fuel emissions that come with the heating and cooling of buildings, an architect has invented a shading system made from a smart material called Read More...
America’s first all-electric vessels will soon start operating at Niagara Falls
For decades, tourists have been able to get up close and personal with the roaring waters of Niagara Falls by getting on board one of the Maid of the Mist ferries. Soon they will be able to do this in a more environmentally-friendly manner thanks to a pair of all-electric boats that will not only Read More...
For the first time, scientists have 3D printed an organ that mimics lungs
We’ve been covering solutions for a long time now, and well, it’s just mind-boggling how quickly new solutions are being invented and further developed. For example, a few years ago 3D-printing was still in its days of infancy, a mechanism used to create rather simple objects. Now, scientists Read More...
Pedestrians are taking over the streets of traffic-filled Brussels
Right now, there can be an almost eerie calm to some sections of central Brussels. Take an evening stroll down Boulevard Anspach, the broad avenue that forms the Belgian capital’s spine, and you may find the roadway empty, its limestone and wrought-iron facades echoing the footsteps of a rare Read More...
How the laundromat can help shrink the literacy gap in America
The average US family spends more than two hours a week at their neighborhood laundromat, and many bring their kids with them. That’s downtime that experts say could be put to better use, which is why 600 laundromats across the US are installing family-friendly literacy spaces for kids under Read More...
Reclaim your weekend with this four-step formula
For many, the phrase “I’ll do that on the weekend,” has become the answer to solving any apparent time limitation problem. In their weekday minds, the weekend becomes this mythical land where time is infinite and motivation abundant. But in their weekend reality, time is still limited and Read More...
Endangered sea turtles are making a comeback in the Pacific Ocean
Amidst the seemingly endless stream of bad news we hear about the world’s oceans on a daily basis, here’s some good news: According to a new survey of sea life in the Pacific Ocean, endangered green sea turtles are making a lively comeback as populations along dozens of coral reefs in waters Read More...
This utility company has found the best way to help people save energy and money
In rural North Carolina, energy bills eat up a massive chunk of a household’s monthly budget—not because the energy rates are especially high, but because the home themselves aren’t built efficiently. Drafty windows, leaky ducts and poor insulation are common, and that means that much of the Read More...
CVS wants to help uninsured people get the care they need with new “health hubs"
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, affecting 45% of the population. That’s 133 million Americans. And $3.5 trillion in annual healthcare costs. Plenty of programs, products, and health startups are aimed at lowering the rates of chronic Read More...