BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM That outdated phone sitting in your junk drawer could be doing a lot more than gathering dust. According to a new European study, it might just be the next tiny tech hero helping researchers monitor marine life or improve your local bus stop. The concept is straightforward enough: turn old smartphones into miniature data centres. It might sound like science fiction, but it’s surprisingly affordable and remarkably effective. “Innovation often begins not with something new, but with a new way of thinking about the old,” says Huber Flores, Associate Professor of Pervasive Computing at the University of Tartu in Estonia. Flores is one of several European researchers behind the new study published in IEEE Pervasive Computing. A budget-friendly breakthrough The team found that reprogramming old smartphones into functional data-processing units costs just around €8 (USD 8.60) per device. Here’s how it works: first, they remove the phone’s battery to prevent chemical leaks, then attach an external power source. Four old smartphones are then grouped together, housed in 3D-printed casings, and transformed into a functional prototype. These devices no longer text or snap selfies, but they can process and store data just fine. What can these micro data centres do? Plenty, as it turns out. The researchers tested their system underwater, where it helped count marine species in real-time. Instead of relying on scuba divers to film marine life and bring the footage back to shore for analysis, these tiny data centres do the job on the spot. But the applications don’t end with the ocean. These repurposed smartphones could also be deployed at bus stops to track passenger numbers and help city planners optimise transit systems. Anywhere real-time data is needed, these pint-sized processors could step in. Small fix, big picture Each year, more than 1.2 billion smartphones are produced globally. Most are replaced every two to three years, generating a staggering amount of e-waste and placing heavy demands on natural resources through mining and energy-intensive production. “Sustainability is not just about preserving the future,” says Ulrich Norbisrath, Associate Professor of Software Engineering at the University of Tartu. “It’s about reimagining the present, where yesterday’s devices become tomorrow’s opportunities.” While transforming a handful of phones into tiny data hubs won’t solve the world’s e-waste crisis, it does offer a clever and concrete step toward a more circular tech economy. Source study: IEEE Xplore—Supporting sustainable computing by repurposing e-waste smartphones as tiny data centersThe post Researchers are turning outdated phones into eco-friendly mini data centres first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM It was after midnight at Mirano, one of Brussels’ iconic nightclubs. The bass pulsed through the air, red lights swept across the floor, and young partygoers sipped drinks under the spinning disco ball. But this night was different. Among the crowd in crop tops and sneakers was a group dressed in suits, sequins, and smiles: seniors from nearby retirement homes, dancing well into the early hours. “Everyone is happy because we’re doing something different,” said 99-year-old Guillaume Vanderweyen. “That matters in life.” A retired carpenter, Vanderweyen hadn’t been clubbing in decades. But with daily exercise keeping him agile, he danced past 2 a.m., grooving to Rihanna and Nigerian star Kizz Daniel. He was part of a group of 16 retirement-home residents brought out by Papy Booom, a Belgian nonprofit tackling senior loneliness with creativity and flair. Rethinking retirement fun Founded by 37-year-old Youssef Kaddar, Papy Booom began with traditional outings like seaside trips and restaurant meals. But these events started to feel routine. Kaddar wondered: Would something a little bolder resonate? The answer came quickly: yes. Since 2023, Papy Booom has hosted five nightclub evenings, along with hot-air balloon rides, video game nights, and even day raves. “We are in a nursing home, but life doesn’t stop,” Kaddar said. “It’s a new life that’s going to start.” This fresh take on aging has proven more than just fun. It helps bridge generations; something the World Health Organization (WHO) deems vital for healthy aging. It also fights the mental and emotional toll of isolation. Globally, about one in four older adults experiences social isolation, according to WHO. “We are living longer, but not healthier and not more connected,” said WHO Europe Director Hans Henri P. Kluge. “There’s a cheap cure: It is called social connectivity.” A night to remember The evening began with dinner at 5:30 p.m., where many women had their hair and makeup done. After dessert crepes at a local restaurant, a small impromptu dance party broke out when Claude François’s “Alexandrie Alexandra” came on. By 11 p.m., the group had entered the mirrored corridors of Mirano, a nightlife staple since the 1980s. Waiters delivered Moët & Chandon with sparkler flares, and the dance floor filled with residents and clubgoers alike. Mirano and other venues participating in the program have donated the club space for these events, while Papy Booom, supported by public funds and private donations, covered other costs like the crepes. Of course, there are a few unavoidable challenges that come with age. Some residents had to remove hearing aids due to the bass, others used canes or needed help on the dark staircase to the bathroom. One woman briefly lost consciousness after drinking too much and was taken to the hospital overnight. Kaddar noted it was the first such incident in many outings, and she was feeling better the next day. Still, the benefits were undeniable. “Each time, they feel younger,” said Nathalie Lejeune, director of social life for more than 60 retirement homes in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. Unexpected friendships and unforgettable moves Not everyone expected to see a group of octogenarians tearing up the dance floor. But that surprise quickly turned to admiration. “It creates a good atmosphere in the nightclub,” said 20-year-old clubgoer Emily Giraud, who danced with Vanderweyen and his friends. Another guest, 24-year-old Danielle Okoo, was equally impressed. “I don’t know if I would be able to do that at their age,” she said. One of the senior revelers, 85-year-old Thérèse Troch, admitted she hadn’t been much of a partygoer in her youth. A classical music lover and former yoga teacher, she joined to escape the retirement-home routine. “It’s the possibility of being in contact,” she said. “Not just talking to old people.” That social spark is exactly what Kaddar hopes to ignite. He calls it preventing a “fading of spirit” that often comes with aging. A model for connection Nightclub manager Ludovic Adrien acknowledged the unique risks involved. “If there’s a dance move that goes too fast, it can quickly go wrong,” he said. Still, he believes it’s worth it: “There’s no real age limit for knowing how to party.” As Europe’s population ages and the proportion of residents over 85 continues to climb, programs like Papy Booom offer a glimpse at what aging joyfully and inclusively could look like. Because whether it’s classical tunes or club beats, one thing is clear: the music and the moves don’t have to stop with age.The post How nightclub outings help older adults fight loneliness first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'Game on, we're coming'

People accuse me of hating people with trans identities because I advocate for ethical and evidence-based medicine for them. My name is Prisha Mosley. I am 27 years old, a mother, and a detransitioner. I am a detransitioner because of a traumatic childhood. When I was 14 years old, I experienced a sexual assault. I struggled with […]

Jewish Democrats Have a Bad Feeling About This

LA Logic: Since Illegals Are Too Scared of ICE to Go to Work They Shouldn't Have to Pay Rent, Either

Monday on MSNBC’s 11th Hour, host Stephanie Ruhle cued up one of the far left’s favorite history professors — Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson — to weigh on President Trump’s weekend military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, but all it boiled down to was a partisan screed about Trump violating the Constitution from someone Ruhle dubbed “one of the best” at...dispensing objective analysis? Asked specifically by Ruhle about what she had written on the pattern she saw in Trump’s actions, Richardson readily responded: What I wrote was that it fit the pattern of disregarding the Constitution, and I think it really does that. But I think that's also part of a larger pattern that has been part of Republican Party history for the last 40 years at least. And that is a reliance on the idea of dominating others through force, through violence.     Time for a bit of a fact check. Richardson tried to make the Republican Party out to be a bunch of warbent, domineering politicians whose primary policy was violence. Of course, every president of the last 40 years, Republican or Democrat, was involved in some form of military operation. President Obama, for example, ordered the dropping of nearly 25,000 bombs on different parts of the Middle East, some of which resulted in civilian casualties. Not only that, Obama’s strikes were also ordered without direct approval from Congress, a move that received nowhere near as much pushback at the time. Neither president’s attacks were unconstitutional, but the media can ignore precedent when it comes to pushing their agenda. Trump’s actions, according to Richardson, were nothing more than performative violence, an attempt to flex his presidential power by stepping past Congress. In her eyes, this was another try at doing what the Flag Day military parade failed to do, even as she acknowledged the exaggerated criticisms the parade received.  Ironically, despite the fact he did the same thing as Trump, Richardson was full of praise for Obama, whom she interviewed the night before: What really stuck out to me, I think, was the degree to which former President Obama is trying to hold open a space for liberal democracy. And by that, I don't mean Democrats, and I don't mean the liberalism that the right wing has turned into an epithet for the most of Americans. I mean the idea of a democracy that protects American individuals, that protects liberties, and makes sure that we are not crushed by forces like industrialization, like AI, like oligarchs, like people who are forcing Americans into smaller and smaller lives. And there's a lot of pressure, I think, from the right wing now, to destroy our democracy and replace it with authoritarianism. Richardson’s notion that Republicans were putting pressure to replace democracy with authoritarianism was absurd. Her main evidence for this was Trump’s bypassing Congress to authorize the strikes, which the same man she cited also did.  As per usual, the guest brought on to explain Trump’s actions ultimately made her block into tiresome partisan bombs. Richardson praised Obama for combatting authoritarianism, ignoring that he did the exact same thing that made Trump authoritarian. In contrast, she argued that Trump’s attacks were purely performative. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read. MSNBC’s The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle June 23, 2025 11:47 p.m. EST STEPHANIE RUHLE: With everything going on tonight, with Trump's ceasefire announcement, we wanted to zoom out and get some perspective. My next guest is one of the very best when it comes to that. Earlier this evening I spoke to Heather Cox Richardson, professor of American history at Boston College. She writes the popular newsletter Letters from an American and is the author of the New York Times best selling book, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America. Watch this. (Cuts to Video) Heather, I am so glad you are with us tonight. You wrote that while there is still a lot that is unclear, President Trump's decision to carry out these strikes on Iran does fit a clear pattern for him. Can you explain? HEATHER COX RICHARDSON: Well, what I wrote was that it fit the pattern of disregarding the Constitution, and I think it really does that. But I think that's also part of a larger pattern that has been part of Republican Party history for the last 40 years at least. And that is a reliance on the idea of dominating others through force, through violence. And you see it really, especially in the attack on Iran, because, in fact, the Republican Party has called for attacks on Iran since at least 2007. You might remember Arizona Senator John McCain, who was running at that point for the presidential nomination for 2008, talking about bombing Iran with, you know, sort of a ditty from the Beach Boys, “Barbara Ann.”  But the Obama administration actually negotiated between 2013 and 2015 an agreement with Iran that worked, you know, we all believed that it worked, that there was inspection of Iran's nuclear sites and so on that made sure they didn't enrich uranium, which was the concern about their developing of nuclear technologies.  But in fact, the Republicans continually insisted that that was not sufficient and, of course, Donald Trump tore that agreement up in 2018 when he got into office. And now, finally, they have bombed Iran. To what end? It's not at all clear. But now that actual fact of bombing has been enough for President Donald Trump today to declare everything is over and now we can all have peace.  RUHLE: Isn't that extraordinary, though, because many people, especially many Republicans, who have wanted us to make this move on Iran for years are saying great, mission accomplished, but we still don't know what lies ahead.  RICHARDSON: Right? And we still don't know what damage was done by those strikes.  There's certainly evidence that's been reposted in a bunch of places today that, in fact, the Iranians had moved the enriched uranium out of the facilities, especially Fordow, where It had been before Trump started posting on social media that he was going to attack Iran. So we don't actually know what happened There's a lot of performance here.  The idea that simply by flexing America's military muscles, we have accomplished what the Republicans and Donald Trump wanted to, whether or not that's actually the case, we're not going to know for quite a while. RUHLE: Let's just think about the last two weeks, right. One weekend, we saw huge protests across the country against his administration while the president held a military parade. The very next weekend, he launched unprecedented military strikes. What was your initial reaction when you heard Trump made this move on Saturday?  RICHARDSON: Well, I'm laughing because don't you feel like every week in this administration has been at least a month long? So, you look back at the No Kings Protests in which more than 5 million people turned out to protest this administration and this president happening on the same day as what was actually not necessarily a badly conceived military parade, which, you know, was supposed to look at the different eras of the American military. But of course, that became known as Trump's birthday parade and it was an utter fizzle.  And then from that, immediately we moved into the idea that Trump was going to flex his muscles again in what looks very much like a performative demonstration of might, of violence, of this sort of idea that just by flexing your muscles and exerting power over somebody, that you can get what you want.  And the issue with that is that it is, first of all, performative, but second of all, as we all know from our own lives, simply insisting that you're going to get your way by hurting somebody or by dominating somebody very rarely works. And in this case, we had the example directly in front of us of an actual negotiation amongst a number of parties, a number of different countries that worked.  We had a number of years of proof that it worked, tore it up in favor of violence, and now simply Trump declaring that this is going to stop Iran's nuclear program may or may not be the case. But we have no proof at all yet that it has been the case.  So we're looking at this moment where we're really seeing a test of this idea of, sort of, performance domination, on the one hand, versus the real hard work of negotiation and figuring out how to live with people And being able to see, well, we know that the negotiations worked, is this sort of performative violence going to work, and we'll find out over the next several years. RUHLE: There has been a lot of talk in the last week, really, about how these moves in general against Iran has split the MAGA base. Do you think that will last or will they come together? RICHARDSON: I think it will depend entirely on whether or not this really does stop here and now. You know, for a while yesterday, President Donald Trump was talking about regime change. If we get involved in another war in the Middle East, that's not going to play well with anybody. It's certainly not going to play well with MAGA. We know the American people are overwhelmingly against having another involvement in a Middle Eastern war.  On the other hand, if this really does end today on all parties, I think that MAGA will simply forget it ever happened and say, “oh, it was a great victory” and walk away. RUHLE: Last week you had a rare opportunity to sit down with former President Barack Obama. What stuck out to you about what he said? RICHARDSON: What really stuck out to me, I think, was the degree to which former President Obama is trying to hold open a space for liberal democracy. And by that, I don't mean Democrats, and I don't mean the liberalism that the right wing has turned into an epithet for the most of Americans. I mean the idea of a democracy that protects American individuals, that protects liberties, and makes sure that we are not crushed by forces like industrialization, like AI, like oligarchs, like people who are forcing Americans into smaller and smaller lives.  And there's a lot of pressure, I think, from the right wing now, to destroy our democracy and replace it with authoritarianism. There is, to some degree, discussion on the part of the far left about pushing back against democracy and replacing it with something else. But there are increasing number of voices in the middle that are simply trying to hold that space open, and having the former. president in a public forum talking about a big tent, talking about protecting the ability of people from all political parties to come together to protect democracy, talking about pushing back against the far-right and the far left, holding that space open, I thought, was a really important stepping stone to what must come next in American democracy, which is beginning to articulate new ways to think about taking our democracy into the 21st century, to take on the really big issues that we've got with things like climate change . So I loved that he was out there. I loved that he was, you know, I sort of am sitting here making a sign of a space being open with my hands because I felt like he was holding that space open for other people to jump into it. RUHLE: Heather, it was a fascinating conversation. I'm glad we got to see just some of it. Thank you for joining me tonight, I appreciate it.

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Located off the coast of Lord Howe Island between New Zealand and Australia, Ball's Pyramid is, at 1,877 feet tall, the tallest volcanic sea stack in the world. The post The Astonishing Story Of Ball’s Pyramid, The Monolithic Marvel Of The Pacific Ocean appeared first on All That's Interesting.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard Blasts the Propaganda Media