March 9, 2020
A weekday read of our top news stories featuring solutions and people creating solutions to make the world a better place. Subscribe to The Optimist Daily Update for a positive Read More...
How adventure tourism provided a lifeline to struggling coal towns
Although we staunchly support the transition away from coal energy, we cannot ignore the struggles of the many communities that have long relied on coal mining. Fayetteville, West Virginia, is just one of the many towns within Appalachia to be hit hard by the transition from fossil fuels to Read More...
Amsterdam’s classy canal boats are going electric ahead of diesel ban
Transitioning from vehicles powered by fossil fuels to electric vehicles doesn’t mean we have to lose the classic aesthetic of old cars and boats. To see what we mean, just look to Amsterdam where the famous canal boats have been getting a clean makeover. Building an entirely new electric canal Read More...
Sweetgreen to introduce truly compostable to-go containers in its restaurants
Amid increasing awareness about the impact of single-use packaging on the environment, in the last couple of years, some restaurant chains in the US have adopted various sustainability measures to slash their footprint. One of the most noticeable initiatives — the introduction of compostable Read More...
These 5 herbal teas will reduce your stress levels
While there are many ways to combat the onset of stress, few are as simple as drinking a warm mug of stress-reducing herbal teas. With that said, here are five herbal teas with medicinal properties that will physiologically reduce stress on a cellular level. Chamomile: Chamomile has a sedative Read More...
Square Roots aims to revolutionize food production in urban areas
As the world population is growing and urbanizing at a fast pace, and with climate change threatening existing supplies of food, there is an increasing urgency for the food industry to come up with new ways to grow food quickly. Recently, vertical farming has been catching the eye of innovators in Read More...
California designates 300 state buildings to house homeless
California Governor Gavin Newsom made addressing homelessness a key issue of his campaign. Last month, he dedicated his State of the State address to the issue with a plan to allocate 286 state properties for use as homeless shelters. This plan builds on his previously proposed plan of Read More...
Vancouver moves to make all birth control free
In a move to make contraceptive options free for men and women across Vancouver, City Council Member Christine Boyle has proposed a budget amendment that would provide no-cost prescription birth control for women in the city under Canada’s universal healthcare plan. Health centers across Read More...
A new online tool is helping cities and businesses find the EVs they need
The technology driving clean transportation is rapidly evolving, so much so that it’s hard to keep track. That’s why a transportation nonprofit focused on cleantech has launched a new online tool called The Zero-Emission Technology Inventory to help cities and businesses know exactly what’s Read More...
Scientists find lettuce grown in space is just as nutritious as Earth-grown
The International Space Station (ISS) has been experimenting with growing its own lettuce and good news for astronauts, a study found the space-grown variety to be just as nutritious as Earth-grown. The red romaine was analyzed by NASA scientists Gioia Massa and Christina Khodadad who looked at Read More...