How to talk to your kids about the climate crisis
The climate crisis can be a difficult and scary topic to discuss, even with other adults. When it comes to talking about climate change with your kids, it gets even tougher. Here are some tips on how to discuss climate change with your kids in a productive and honest way. Break the Read More...
Chicago is seeing book returns surge 240% after the mayor eliminated fees
A little over a month ago, we published a story about Chicago libraries doing away with overdue book fees, which are disproportionately affecting the city’s lower-income residents. Now, one month since the fines were eliminated, Chicago libraries are reporting a 240 percent increase in the number Read More...
How to see Mercury soar in front of the sun today
If you are a fan of sky gazing, you will have a unique opportunity to see Mercury glide in front of the sun today, November 11. The event known as the Transit of Mercury is only visible for people in the western hemisphere, and it won’t occur again until 2032. This year, Mercury will take Read More...
Greta Thunberg effect: How carbon offsetting has spiked in the past 18 months
She is 16-years-old, and she already has a phenomenon named after her called the “Greta Thunberg effect”. It refers to the huge increase in individuals and businesses choosing to offset their emissions by investing in carbon-reducing projects in developing countries. Ever since Thunberg’s Read More...
OPTIMIST VIEW: An Emissary Conversation - The Business of Doing Good
By The Optimist Daily Team “If you want to predict the future, the best way is to create it.” - Rinaldo Brutoco This weekend we began to create our future as Optimist Daily readers and Emissaries by hosting our inaugural Optimist Daily Emissary Conversation. We know as Optimists that Read More...
Bravo! Italy becomes first country to mandate climate change education in school
As much as climate change is a threat to us, it’s an even bigger threat to our children. That’s why it’s a bit shocking that no country has made courses on climate change a mandatory part of the education curriculum. That is, until now. This week, Italy announced that it will become the Read More...
This beach in Finland is completely covered in rare ‘ice eggs’
For years the Optimist Daily has been writing about natural phenomenons, and yet, we continue to be surprised that they happen in our awe-inspiring world. This week, something very rare happened in Finland that we bet you have never seen before. Walking along a beach on the Hailuoto island of Read More...
Coffee pods finally have a biodegradable alternative
The coffee pod is a nemesis to environmentalists, overflowing landfills across Europe and America by the millions. These pods, which are made from aluminum and plastic, are an especially frustrating source of waste because there are simply much greener ways of making coffee that require just as Read More...
Amsterdam is pushing hard to become a car-free city
Aside from its beautiful canals and delicious Stroopwafels, Amsterdam is perhaps most famous for the masses of bikes that voyage through the city. To make life easier for bikers and pedestrians, Amsterdam has been instituting policies towards its ultimate goal of becoming a car-free city. In Read More...
Turning to nature for help may be key to tackle air pollution
Dealing with air pollution that plagues cities across the United States doesn’t necessarily require fancy, expensive technology. In fact, new research suggests it may be easier, cheaper, and more effective to simply let nature do the work. Researchers from Ohio State University studied Read More...