Holocaust Survivor at 108: "I was Thankful and Happy"

At 108 years old, Alice Herz-Sommer is the world's oldest survivor of the holocaust. During WWII she survived a Nazi concentration camp in Prague while most of her family was exterminated. But through it all she was smiling and thankful and looked for the good.

By Jeanne Goddard

08 May 59 Views

Dow Breaks 13,000 for First Time Since 2008 Stock Market Crash

The Dow Jones industrial average, powered higher all year by optimism that the economic recovery is finally for real, crossed 13,000 today for the first time since May 2008 -- a number with symbolic power that couldn't be dismissed.

By Jeanne Goddard

21 February 61 Views

Optimism in US Economy Pushes Dow to Best Week in 2 Years

A rebound in manufacturing surprised investors Friday, and strong Nike sales indicated consumers were still shopping, which sent the Dow Jones industrial average up nearly 170 points to end the week with its best gain in two years.

By Jeanne Goddard

02 July 60 Views

U.S. Retailers Report Solid Sales Gains for July

A wide range of retailers today reported sales figures for July that beat Wall Street estimates, including Target, J.C. Penney, Macy's, and Saks. Costco reported an impressive 10% increase in sales.

By Jeanne Goddard

04 August 58 Views

Two Reports This Week are Good News for US Economy

Existing home sales grew in August at the fastest annual pace since March and increased plans for new buildings drawn up by architects indicate a future surge in non-residential construction.

By Jeanne Goddard

22 September 56 Views

Humans are Less Violent Than Ever: A Harvard Professor Explains the Decline

Most people think the world is more violent than ever, with more wars and murders, but in reality, we've never had it so peaceful. That's the thesis of a new book by prominent Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker. It uses graphs and statistics to reveal dramatic reductions in war deaths, family violence, racism, rape, and murder.

By Jeanne Goddard

23 October 64 Views

Rewire Your Brain for Love

Valentine's Day can be the bane of any person's year. It can fling daggers of loneliness, rather than gentle arrows from Cupid. Instead of dreading another February 14th, use the science of mindfulness to make a healthy relationship resolution and rewire your brain for love.

By Jeanne Goddard

14 February 65 Views

3 Encouraging Trends in Housing for the U.S.

Sometimes you have to dig for good news. And this is surely true in the real estate sector. There are some nuggets of good news buried in the latest housing data. Here are three encouraging trends.

By Jeanne Goddard

26 June 71 Views

Dow Jones Average is Up 5% in 2011; Third Consecutive Year of Gains

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index of 30 blue-chip U.S. stocks, finished 2011 with a gain of 5.5 percent, the third consecutive year that the bellwether index has finished in positive territory.

By Jeanne Goddard

31 December 65 Views

Optimism Linked to Higher Consumption of Kale and Carrots

Middle-aged adults who are more optimistic about their future tend to have higher antioxidant levels than their less optimistic peers, according to new research out of Harvard.

By Jeanne Goddard

13 February 61 Views

Smile, Science Says it's Good for Your Heart

Two new studies by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore shows optimistic, cheerful people are significantly less likely to develop coronary artery disease than their pessimistic peers.

By Jeanne Goddard

13 September 59 Views

Optimistic Spouse Better for Partner's Health

If your spouse expects good things to happen, you may be reap better health as a result. Having an optimistic spouse predicted better mobility and fewer chronic illnesses over time, even above and beyond a person's own level of optimism, says a new study.

By Jeanne Goddard

28 April 55 Views

One Million People Pack D.C. With Energy, Optimism

Spirits were high among hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic spectators flocking to Washington for Monday's inauguration, where they braved chilly temperatures and heavy security to witness the ceremonial start of President Obama's second term.

By Jeanne Goddard

22 January 66 Views

The Life of a Heart: Muslims and Jews Saving Lives Together

As a Muslim woman who teaches classes about the Holocaust at a Catholic college, I am constantly frustrated by the negative media coverage of the Middle East. A documentary recently aired on Al Jazeera was an extremely heartening exception to the rule. The film, Jerusalem SOS, told the stories of Jews and Muslims saving each other's lives.

By Richard Allen

16 February 67 Views

Optimism is Healthy

A 2006 Dutch study of elderly men found a lower risk for cardiovascular death for those identified as optimistic. The research found optimism to be associated with a 50 percent lower risk of death from heart attack in men studied over 15 years. Higher optimism scores were associated with younger age, higher education, less often […]

By Jeanne Goddard

27 February 58 Views