How to shop for healthy food without spending loads of money
At The Optimist Daily, we care deeply about food. We believe food is medicine, and we’re incredibly concerned with how our food is grown and how it affects our bodies. Sunday’s Optimist View was a testament to our desire to create discussion around food as we explored the potentially damaging Read More...
This Polish company uses waste wheat bran to make biodegradable bowls and plates
Isn’t it ridiculous that disposable plastic plates are still being used even though they can take up to 500 years to break down? An innovative Polish company by the name of Biotrem thinks so, which is why they’ve created biodegradable tableware made from compressed wheat bran, a by-product of Read More...
Finland is offering lessons in happiness with free trips to its wonderful nature
For the past two years, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world. Its citizens are relaxed and cheerful, enjoying life in a progressive, technologically advanced society, without becoming overly stressed. The Finns themselves attribute this to their connection with nature and Read More...
Gibraltar bans release of helium balloons in bid to save marine life
For years, Gibraltar used to release 30,000 balloons each year on the 10th of September to celebrate its National Day. After realizing that most of these balloons ended up polluting the sea and seriously threatening marine life, the government decided to put an end to this tradition two years Read More...
This Japanese mending technique turns old clothes into art you can wear
These days, the way you dress can be a stark environment statement. In response to the ubiquity of fast fashion and a growing consciousness about the ‘true cost’ of the garment industry, people are beginning to come up with fashionable, innovative ways to rebel against today’s consumerist Read More...
How gender quotas could lead to more land conservation
The key to boosting environmental conservation around the world could be gender quotas. While it seems like an unlikely tool to inspire more conservation, a new study conducted in three developing countries showed that when more women are involved in group decisions about land management, the group Read More...
Researchers develop nifty device that can use waste CO2 to purify wastewater
Access to clean water is something that many of us take for granted, but it's a serious problem across much of the world. Now researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra have tested a new method for sterilizing water using hot bubbles of carbon dioxide, which they've found to Read More...
The inspiring story behind Peter Tabichi, the world’s best teacher of 2019
We could all learn a thing or two about generosity from Peter Tabichi, a math and physics teacher at a secondary in a remote part of Kenya’s Rift Valley. Tabichi gives away 80 percent of his income to help the poorest students at the poorly-equipped and overcrowded school who could otherwise not Read More...
Meet the fired Kentucky coal miners who are picking up a new trade
Like the top story in today’s edition of the Optimist Daily already points out, coal is losing in the battle to remain a relevant energy source as renewables such as wind and solar have become cheaper. Still, while it’s good news for the planet that we’re lessening our dependence on coal Read More...
New study finds solar or wind energy is cheaper than coal in most of America
According to a major new study, the clock is running out for coal energy. Around three-quarters of US coal production is now more expensive than solar and wind energy in providing electricity to American households. The study’s authors used public financial filings and data from the Energy Read More...