Science & Nature:
Every day, breakthroughs in science and moments of awe in nature remind us of the world’s boundless potential. From innovative technologies improving lives to the resilience and beauty of the natural world, these stories showcase human ingenuity and the planet’s enduring spirit — proof that progress and preservation can go hand in hand.
More of the Same:
Tim Friede: The walking snake antivenom
For many, the thought of a snake bite fills them with fear. For Tim Friede, it’s just another Tuesday. After an upbringing of voluntary snake bites, Tim’s body became a hub for immunity against snake venom - turning him into a goldmine for scientists. Growing up, Tim...
Indonesia’s fight for environmental justice
In the heart of North Sumatra, the coastal rice paddies of Bali, and the vast rainforests of Borneo, something revolutionary is happening. Indonesia's people - villagers, farmers, elders, and activists - are challenging powerful interests, defending fragile...
Earth Soup: Social action using art for environmental change
Students in South Yorkshire have created a social 'artivism' project called 'Earth Soup'. Their aim is to connect communities in urbanised areas around Yorkshire, particularly young people, to blue spaces through creative workshops and hands-on projects. Blue spaces...
Q&A with rest expert Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith
In this Q&A, The Optimist speaks to Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith about the importance of rest for a more energised and healthy life. Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith was once exhausted, as many people are. As a practising internal medicine physician, she started researching...
Pioneering coral restoration in the Gulf of Mexico
Fifteen years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a beacon of hope emerges from the depths of the Gulf of Mexico. A groundbreaking initiative is giving new life into ancient coral ecosystems. Deep beneath the Gulf's surface lie coral communities that have thrived...
High Seas Treaty ratified by EU and six nations in major milestone
More of the world’s oceans may soon be protected, thanks to a major move by the European Union and six of its member countries. This week, they officially ratified a United Nations treaty designed to safeguard the high seas - those vast areas of ocean that don’t...
Review: ‘7 types of rest’ that you should know
Discover the seven types of rest (physical, mental, emotional, social, sensory, creative, spiritual) suggested by the book Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity by Dr Saundra Dalton Smith. Have you ever felt exhausted even after...
Freiburg’s cycling-path to sustainable urban living
Discover how Freiburg rebuilt itself into a global green city leader - and what the rest of the world can learn from its success. The urban sustainability imperative The urgent need for sustainable urban living has never been more apparent. Cities are inhabited by...
Japan to begin clinical trials with artificial blood
Scientists in Japan are experimenting with the production of artificial blood, amid shortages of blood and need for safe transfusions. A clinical trial by Nara Medical University will try to build on a previous 2022 trial on haemoglobin vesicles - small artificial...
Indigenous led reforestation project thrives in Panama
In the heart of Ñürüm, a rural district nestled within Panama’s largest Indigenous territory, a quiet transformation is taking root. Local farmer Isidrio Hernandez-Ruiz - affectionately known in the community as campesino - has joined forces with the Smithsonian...
Antarctica’s ice sheet grows for the first time in decades
In an unexpected twist to recent climate narratives, NASA satellites have shown Antarctica has gained ice, despite rising global temperatures. Using data from NASA satellites, a team of scientists from Tongji University in China, led by Dr. Wei Wang and Professor...
The Attenborough effect: Changing ‘Life on Our Planet’
A Voice for the Planet: Sir David Attenborough’s Enduring Legacy In an era where environmental crises seem to be accelerating, one voice has been a constant beacon of hope and urgency: Sir David Attenborough. Over decades of broadcasting, Attenborough has brought the...
Fin-tercom: the Fish Doorbell that’s making waves
Over 2.7 million people viewed the Fish Doorbell in 2024, according to Visdeurbel. Weerdsluis, a manually operated lock located in Utrecht, The Netherlands, is home to thousands of fish and other wildlife. Every spring, the fish swim through the canals in search of a...
How AI might help prepare for future pandemic scenarios
From the most mundane checks of reducing human error and preventing repetitive tasks, the development of AI, particularly platforms such as ChatGPT, has allowed us to automate so many tiresome tasks. Nonetheless, I know it can seem very overwhelming to see how...
Motor Neurone Disease and it’s pioneers
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurological condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It causes muscle weakness that gets worse over months or years, and it significantly reduces life expectancy. It’s not the only debilitating and cruel...
Why Jimmy Carr should reconsider his skincare advice
The Problem with Fear-Driven Skincare Advice When Jimmy Carr appeared on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast in 2024, he was asked for non-obvious advice for younger people. He didn’t hesitate: “Stay out of the sun. Sun damage is 90% of ageing.” He’s not wrong,...
Swiss duck breaks speedlimit again
With a quirky twist to your usual traffic report, a Swiss duck has been caught breaking the speed limit, apparently for the second time in seven years. On April 13th, local police in Köniz were reviewing routine traffic camera footage when they noticed an unusual...
Pawsitive Posting: Social Media’s impact on animal conservation
A simple like, follow or share of an animal post may be a mindless and monotonous gesture for you, instantly forgotten with a swipe of a finger and replaced by a how-to-make slime video. But, your quick interaction could save endangered animals' lives and...