The Optimist Times — Issue #8
August 7th — August 13th
The Optimist Times is a new kind of front page news. Instead of showing stories that exploit our fears, the stories found here inspire, amaze, and awe. We live in the most spectacular time in history and The Optimist Times intends to highlight this. If you would like to get every issue in your inbox each week you can sign up here. Thanks for reading!
Happy Monday! Here’s a much needed dose of optimism and inspiration for your week ahead.
The Berlin mosque breaking Islamic taboos
BBC — 3 min read
A Berlin mosque is opening its doors to all regardless of gender, sexual Orientation or background in the hopes that it will help fuel more liberal Islam in europe.
Immunotherapy succeeds in thwarting Type-1 diabetes in study
LA Times — 4 min read
A form of immunotherapy gaining ground as a way to treat childhood food allergies has shown promise in treating another rising scourge of children and young adults: Type 1 diabetes.
Tragedy averted after ‘hero’ garda and Good Samaritan jump into fast-flowing river to rescue man
Irish News — 2 min read
A BANK holiday tragedy was dramatically averted after a young garda dived into a fast-flowing river in order to save the life of a man. Garda Stephen Fahy is being hailed a hero following the rescue effort at the Hyde bridge in Sligo yesterday.
The 5 Smartest Companies Analyzing Your DNA
MIT Technology Review — 2 min read
As gene sequencing technology gets faster and cheaper, companies are finding more ways to commercialize DNA, from offering disease-specific genetic tests and whole-genome sequencing to portable sequencers that allow you analyze genetic data anywhere.
PJ Fleck surprises Justin Juenemann with full ride
Sports Illustrated — 2 min watch
Minnesota kicker Justin Junemann was surprised with a full-ride scholarship by head coach PJ Fleck and a fan named Kyle, who is a patient at the University of Minnesota’s children’s hospital.
She’s 98. He’s 94. They Met at the Gym.
The New York Times — 10 min read
Gertrude Mokotoff and Alvin Mann were introduced eight years ago at a gym in Middletown, N.Y., where they still work out twice a week. Now they’re married.
First New Drug In Decades Gives Hope To ALS Patients
CBS Local — 2 min read
For the first time in more than 20 years, a new drug to treat ALS is now available in the United States. The drug Radicava was approved by the FDA and has proved to be effective for ALS patients.
Mistreated and Scarred as a Pup, Patriot the Husky Now Helps Children Who Have Also Been Victims of Abuse
People — 2 min read
Children who have suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse in Orange County, California, have found strength to testify against their accusers through the help of a Siberian husky named Patriot who also knows the pain of torment and neglect.
Alzheimer’s Memory Loss May Be Reversible, MIT Study Says
Boston Magazine — 3 min read
A new study from MIT may give hope to patients and families struggling with the cognitive decline characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. A paper published Tuesday in Cell Reports details a potential method of breaking down the genetic blockades in the brain that lead to Alzheimer’s-related memory loss. The technique has so far only been tested on mice, but, hopefully, it could someday reverse the disease’s most heartbreaking symptom in humans.
China Will Experiment with Using Blockchain to Collect Taxes
MIT Technology Review — 12 min read
The Chinese government has announced that it plans to start using blockchain technology for collecting taxes and issuing electronic invoices. It’s currently unclear exactly how that will work, but it could dovetail nicely with other digitization plans in the country.
Come across any inspiring stories this week? Please pass them along to me and I will try including them in next week’s issue.
Thanks for reading!
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