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SpaceX has successfully launched 4 astronauts into space
SpaceX launched four astronauts on their journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday. As it departed from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the company’s Falcon 9 rocket became the first privately owned and operated spacecraft to be certified by NASA for a flight into space. SpaceX Read More...
Young man became the 1st person with Down syndrome to finish Ironman triathlon
Sports history was made in 2020 when Special Olympics athlete Chris Nikic became the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon. If you’re not familiar with the Ironman triathlon, it’s one of the most grueling athletic competitions in the world. Athletes are expected to Read More...
Ditch beef: Beyond Meat’s new plant-burgers are healthier and juicer
Just last week, we wrote a story about Pizza Hut becoming the first national pizza chain to offer plant-based toppings from Beyond Meat at all their locations. This week, we have more news from Beyond Meat after the faux-meat company unveiled new versions of its plant-based burgers that are both Read More...
The world’s biggest fur auction house is closing its doors
Real animal fur is becoming increasingly out-of-style within the fashion industry. More and more people are straying away from the inhumane trade, and some cities, countries, and companies have placed bans on fur in recent years. In another blow to the fur industry, the world’s largest fur Read More...
A new tool for bear conservation in Canada: facial recognition
When it comes to conservation, tracking specific animals usually involves collars or tags, but when software developers Ed Miller and Mary Nguyen saw the fast growth of AI for human facial recognition, they thought, “why can’t this be used for conservation efforts too?” This idea, combined Read More...
This recycling breakthrough brings EV batteries closer to circularity
In a recent Optimist View, we discussed how battery recycling must become an integral part of the electric vehicle transition. Most lithium batteries rely on heavy metal extraction which takes its own toll on the environment. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are cheaper to produce and have a longer Read More...
Clean energy revolution: Philippines to stop building new coal power plants
Currently, coal is the dominant source of energy in the Philippines, with more than 41 percent of the country’s economy relying on dirty fossil fuel. That may soon change though, as the Filipino government recently announced that it will no longer accept proposals to build new coal power plants, Read More...
Argentinian patients can now access and grow medical marijuana
In 2017, a law was passed in Argentina that legalized medical marijuana. The law, however, was flawed as many obstacles blocked patients from gaining access to medical marijuana, forcing many to turn to the black market instead. The good news for supporters of medical marijuana is that Read More...
Kim Ng appointed as Major League Baseball’s first female general manager
The Miami Marlins made history last week as the first team in Major League Baseball (MLB) to hire a female general manager. Kim Ng will become the highest-ranked woman in MLB operations after 30 years of experience in professional baseball. Ng worked for the Chicago White Sox, the New York Read More...
Incredibly remote island creates world’s fourth largest marine sanctuary
In the South Atlantic Ocean lies one of the most remote islands in the world, Tristan da Cunha. The incredibly isolated British territory is partially famous because the recorded population of 245 people is thought to have all descended from just fifteen outside ancestors who arrived on the island Read More...