The Optimist Daily

UC Santa Barbara scientists create liquid solar battery that stores sunlight as heat | The Optimist Daily UC Santa Barbara chemists develop a bio-inspired liquid battery that stores solar energy and releases it as heat, outperforming lithium-ion batteries.

A new discovery from UC Santa Barbara researchers may offer a lightweight, recyclable alternative to conventional batteries for solar energy storage. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/uc-s...

Malaysia bans e-waste imports and cracks down on illegal dumping | The Optimist Daily Malaysia has announced a full ban on e-waste imports, strengthening enforcement as it vows to stop being a dumping ground for global electronic waste.

In a bold move to protect public health and the environment, Malaysia enacted an immediate and total ban on the import of electronic waste, or e-waste, as the government steps up efforts to stop illegal dumping and corruption tied to waste management.

www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/mala...

Vienna is turning parking spaces into parks and it’s changing the city | The Optimist Daily Vienna is replacing parking spaces with green areas to cool streets, cut traffic, and make room for people. Other cities are taking note.

Vienna is on a mission to swap asphalt for trees, bike lanes, and public seating by removing parking spaces. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/vien...

How plant “touch” boosts resilience: new research reveals surprising stress response | The Optimist Daily When plant leaves touch, they become more resilient to light stress. A new study shows how physical contact may form a natural stress warning system.

Plants are surprisingly cooperative with one another and can warn each other about environmental stressors with the touch of a leaf. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/how-...

US life expectancy hits all-time high (and it’ll probably keep rising) | The Optimist Daily US life expectancy reached a record 79 years in 2024, thanks to fewer deaths from heart disease, COVID-19, and overdoses. Early data shows 2025 may improve further.

Life expectancy in the United States climbed to a historic high in 2024, reaching 79 years—its highest level ever recorded. Early data from 2025 suggests that there will be even more improvement. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/us-l...

Most cancer cases are preventable: the 2 lifestyle habits largely to blame | The Optimist Daily A major WHO study finds smoking and alcohol are the top drivers of preventable cancers. Here’s how lifestyle change could save millions of lives.

A significant number of cancer diagnoses can still be prevented simply by reducing two common lifestyle habits. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/most...

It’s never too late: quitting smoking at any age can add years to your life, study finds | The Optimist Daily Quitting smoking, regardless of age, can increase life expectancy, according to recent studies.

2026 will have some sustainability shifts we can anticipate and prepare for. www.optimistdaily.com/2024/10/its-...

Guinea worm nears eradication, may be second human disease wiped out after smallpox | The Optimist Daily With just 10 cases worldwide in 2025, Guinea worm is on the brink of eradication thanks to decades of prevention, clean water efforts, and global commitment.

Guinea worm disease (a parasitic infection) is on its way to complete eradication. If successful, this would be the second disease to be fully eradicated after smallpox. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/guin...

Where fitness meets kindness: GoodGym is getting people moving and giving back | The Optimist Daily GoodGym helps people get fit while giving back by combining group runs with volunteer work like gardening, food delivery, and helping older adults.

What if your workout could make the world a better place?

GoodGym is leading a movement that combines physical movement with hands-on tasks that benefit the community. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/wher...

Scotland becomes first UK nation to mandate swift bricks in all new homes | The Optimist Daily Scotland will require swift bricks in all new buildings to help endangered birds, setting a UK precedent for protecting swifts and boosting urban biodiversity.

Future buildings in Scotland will now have to cater to the native birds around with the requirement of "swift bricks." www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/scot...

The Ocean Cleanup removed a record 25 million kilos of plastic in 2025 (and they’re just getting started) | The Optimist Daily With 25 million kilos of plastic removed in 2025 alone, The Ocean Cleanup is scaling up efforts to tackle plastic pollution from rivers to open ocean.

The Ocean Cleanup pulled over 55 million pounds of plastic from global waterways last year. They have even more ambitious plans to combat plastic this year. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/the-...

Yale will offer free tuition to families earning under $200,000 starting in 2026 | The Optimist Daily Yale will cover tuition for families earning under $200,000, and full costs for those under $100,000, opening new doors for students across the country.

Yale is among a growing group of top-tier universities making significant moves to reduce the cost of higher education. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/yale...

8 night sky events to catch this February, from a planetary parade to the Milky Way’s return | The Optimist Daily From a ring-of-fire eclipse to a dazzling planet lineup, February’s skies are full of heavenly wonders. Here’s when and where to look up.

Even though it is the shortest month on the calendar, February is not short of extraordinary night sky events to catch. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/8-ni...

Scientists develop unsinkable metal tubes using water-repelling technology | The Optimist Daily Engineers have created superhydrophobic metal tubes that stay afloat even when punctured, offering promise for ships, platforms, and wave-powered devices.

Unsinkable ships are one step closer to reality.

Engineers at the University of Rochester developed a way to make ordinary aluminum unsinkable even when it’s punctured, submerged, or battered by rough conditions. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/scie...

Spray-on powder developed in South Korea stops severe bleeding in just one second | The Optimist Daily South Korean scientists have created a spray-on powder that seals wounds in one second, offering a fast, effective solution for traumatic bleeding injuries.

Researchers in South Korea developed a spray-on powder that could stop life-threatening bleeding in a matter of seconds. This could revolutionize emergency care, especially when every second counts. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/02/spra...

Absolutely love this thread of good news. It's so important to also focus on what is going right in the world so we can learn and grow. Thank you for adding our stories to it so consistently!

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A big win for parents: free childcare is coming to San Francisco | The Optimist Daily San Francisco will now offer free or subsidized childcare for families earning up to $310,000, making life more affordable in one of the priciest U.S. cities.

San Francisco is expanding free childcare access for families earning under $230,000 a year, and a 50 percent subsidy to those earning up to $310,000. In a city where even a six-figure salary could price you out, this is a huge relief. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/a-bi...

Goodbye pain pills? How a stem cell “sponge” might switch off chronic pain at the source | The Optimist Daily Researchers are testing a stem-cell-based “pain sponge” that could intercept pain signals before they reach the brain, offering a drug-free solution for chronic pain.

Tiny, lab-grown neurons may be able to intercept pain signals before they ever reach your brain. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/good...

From past-due to forgiven: inside North Carolina’s massive medical debt reset | The Optimist Daily North Carolina erased medical debt for 2.5 million people by partnering with hospitals to forgive old bills and prevent new ones before they start.

All 99 hospitals in North Carolina agreed to stop collecting certain medical debts going back to 2014.

Just as importantly, they committed to preventing future debt by automatically discounting care for patients who qualify for financial assistance.

www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/from...

Clean energy surge leads to historic coal decline in China and India | The Optimist Daily For the first time since the 1970s, coal power fell in China and India thanks to a massive clean energy expansion. Here’s why that matters globally.

Coal-fired electricity generation has dropped in both China and India, the world’s two largest consumers of coal.

This milestone reflects a powerful surge in clean energy development that is reshaping the global energy landscape.

www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/clea...

EU to reinstate Bay of Biscay fishing ban in 2026 after dolphin deaths decline | The Optimist Daily A winter fishing ban in the Bay of Biscay is returning in 2026 after proving effective at reducing dolphin deaths caused by accidental net entanglements.

The Bay of Biscay is usually a dangerous spot for dolphins migrating in the winter, as it coincides with peak fishing season. Following successful years of temporary fishing bans, the EU will once again reinstate the policy. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/eu-t...

At-home STD testing and new treatments are changing the game for sexual health care | The Optimist Daily

At-home STD testing is more accessible than ever thanks to Visby Medical's all-in-one, at-home test. It's also arriving alongside the first new gonorrhea treatments in decades.

For public health experts, the timing couldn’t be better.

www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/at-h...

The surprising way fruit can protect your lungs from air pollution, according to science | The Optimist Daily

What's the relationship between a bowl of fruit and air pollution?

Well, your diet might be one of the best defenses against the invisible harm of dirty air. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/the-...

Global agreement boosts protection for 70 endangered shark and ray species | The Optimist Daily

Many shark and ray species have seen steep drops due to overfishing and the global demand for their fins, liver oil, and gill plates.

Now, a global agreement between 185 countries will bolster protections for these keystone endangered species. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/glob...

In an amazing environmental move, stingless bees in Peru’s Amazon rainforest have become the first insects in the world to be granted legal rights. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/stin...

A new policy in New Mexico will extend free childcare to families where grandparents are the main caregivers of children.
www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/gran...

Norway has hit the brakes on its controversial plans to mine the deep ocean floor, announcing it will not issue any deep-sea mining licenses until at least 2029. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/norw...

Upcoming legislation in the UK will make it a criminal offense to create or distribute apps that use artificial intelligence to digitally remove clothing from images without consent. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/uk-t...

According to the NYPD, 2025 marked the lowest number of shootings ever recorded in the city’s history, a milestone city leaders are celebrating as a testament to strategic, data-driven policing and community resilience. www.optimistdaily.com/2026/01/nycs...