Podcast Transcript September 18th, 2026 - A 450-year map mistake gets corrected by 164 countries, plus nine more solutions
Episode Description: Most world maps show Greenland and Africa as roughly the same size… which is kind of unbelievable considering Africa is 14 times larger! This error has been built into classrooms, boardrooms, and institutions since 1569. Last week, 164 countries finally voted to fix it. Arielle and Karissa also cover a solar ambulance built by university students that completed its first real-world test in rural Kenya, a student baking operation in Frisco, Texas that has raised over $8,000 f
The science section covers breakthroughs in medicine, physics, biology, and technology. We surface discoveries that expand what humanity can do, from new treatments reaching clinical trials to engineering feats that seemed impossible a decade ago. Every link goes to the original publisher so you can read the full study or press release yourself.
If today's breakthrough story sparked something, a live 1-on-1 tutor can take you from curious to competent. First lesson guaranteed or your money back.
Try Preply free →
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The lettuce in REWE’s Lankwitz store in Berlin has had a short morning. Grown on th…
Credit: NASA The Republic of Albania will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at 12 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 21,…
5 min read NASA-JAXA XRISM Mission Sees Pulsar Gathering Companion’s ‘Wind’ Using data from the Japan-led XRISM (X-ray I…
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft launches NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the Internat…
Most news feeds won't give you another one. Our morning letter will: one email at sunrise with the day's best good news.
Start tomorrow morning →