Today’s Solutions: December 19, 2025

After 21 days in lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, residents in Jalandhar, Punjab were rewarded with a view not seen in 30 years: the tops of the Himalayan Mountain range.

Reduced smog and pollution due to national shutdowns have revealed the tops of the mountains, which residents say haven’t been visible to the naked eye for 30 years. Many cities throughout India and the world have reported significantly reduced air pollution levels. The view of the glowing white peaks of the mountain is a testament to the pollution-free skies.

Residents in Cagliari, Italy have reported dolphin sightings, wild turkeys roam the streets of Northern California, and orcas are venturing further up into Vancouver’s Burrell Inlet. 

Amidst the uncertainty and grief of COVID-19, cleaner air and the resurgence of animal populations are offering an incredible silver lining to these strange times.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

New method uses sound waves to map soil health, stop famine, and restore farm...

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Across the world, soil scientists are trading in their shovels for something unexpected: seismic sensors. In a breakthrough ...

Read More

This simple 15-minute mindset exercise can ease anxiety, science shows

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A growing body of research is revealing how a short, simple activity that is done in just 15 ...

Read More

3 habits of the happiest people

Think of the happiest people you know. Do you find yourself often wondering what they are doing to maintain a general level of joy? ...

Read More

Changemakers of the week: GRuB and SparkNJ

Every day on the Optimist Daily, we report on solutions from around the world. Though we love solutions big and small, the ones that ...

Read More