Why you should consider getting a bidet installed in your bathroom
The bidet: in much of the world it’s the normal, hygienic way to clean your bum after using the toilet. In America, it’s virtually unknown. And that’s a crying shame, both for public health as well for the environment. If you don’t know what a bidet is, allow us to fill you in. It’s Read More...
Newly proposed marine sanctuary would protect migrating Pacific humpback whales
Beach-goers in California and Oregon from April to December can often see migrating humpback whales along the coastline as they make their yearly migration to warmer waters in Mexico. A new proposal for a national marine sanctuary along the west coast of the U.S. would help protect these whales Read More...
KLM is attempting to reinvent the airplane. More airlines need to be like KLM
The oldest airline in the world, KLM, turned 100 years old last week. Rather than celebrate its past, however, the Dutch airline doubled-down on its commitment to making the airline industry cleaner and smarter. The airline is already known for using biofuel as a greener alternative to Read More...
This door handle sterilizes itself constantly using UV light
Door handles tend to be home to alarmingly high levels of bacteria. That’s why a team of graduates from the University of Hong Kong have designed a door handle that uses light to constantly sterilize itself. Comprised of a glass tube with aluminum caps at each end, the door handle is covered in Read More...
How to be a conscious consumer, even on a budget
Sociologist Joseph Cohen once said, “America is a place where the luxuries are cheap and the necessities are expensive.” While we might feel like our lives are overrun with cheap goods, it can be difficult to shop more sustainably when it feels like the greener options eat away at your Read More...
Addressing anxiety: how to be a resource for someone who is struggling
Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in the U.S., so we at the Optimist Daily are big on sharing stories on stress reduction, from foods that help to meditation methods. If you have never experienced anxiety yourself, it can be difficult to understand what a friend or family member is Read More...
Next time you need a boost in creativity, try this simple trick
We’ve all been there-you're sitting at your desk, trying to come up with some juicy new idea, only to find your creative pipes clogged. While sometimes we blame it on a lack of caffeine in our bodies, some of the most frustrating roadblocks to creativity can actually stem from being in a static Read More...
30 major cities around the world are seeing their emissions plummet
When the Paris Agreement was signed four years ago, a major focus was on the role that cities would play in cutting emissions. After all, urbanization means more people are living in cities than in rural areas, and that trend will only continue in the coming years. And while progress has been a bit Read More...
Money talks: what's yours saying about the environment?
So you bring your own bag to the grocery store, you carpool to work and are cutting down on your meat consumption. Looking for something more to shrink your personal carbon footprint? Changing the way you manage your money can actually help make your lifestyle more sustainable. Here are eight ways Read More...
FUTURE OF FOOD: The Follies of Food Waste, or How to have your food and eat it too!
Someone may offer you a freshly caught whole large fish, like a salmon or striped bass. Don't panic - take it! - Julia Child BY AMELIA BUCKLEY One evening when I was eight years old, I sat in a small french cafe with my sister and parents when the waiter delivered my father's plate - an Read More...