The ultimate guide to making a quarantine garden—even without much space
Throughout both World Wars, the US government encouraged its citizens to “sow the seeds of victory” and plant War Gardens to assist in the fighting effort. Every day folks were expected to convert every idle plot of land they could muster into gardens to grow crops, which freed up resources for Read More...
Tired of Zoom meetings? Consider adding a llama
Silicon Valley is famous for its tech scene, but it is also home to the animal sanctuary Sweet Farm. Now, the farm is getting cozier with its tech neighbors and renting out farm animals to add some flair to Zoom meetings. For $100, companies can hire a llama or goat to make a virtual Read More...
Milan plans to have fewer cars on its streets after lockdown
The coronavirus has shaken up many aspects of our lives, but this trying time should also be seen as a window of opportunity to lay the ground for meaningful change within our current structures. Milan, for one, is definitely not missing this chance to redesign the city to the benefit of its Read More...
Germany crushes solar power record thanks to smog-free skies
As Europe halts daily life in the fight against coronavirus, the skies above have become as crisp and clean as ever. And not only does that allow for a fresh breath of air, but it also allows solar panels to produce maximum power. In Germany, solar panels produced record amounts of electricity, Read More...
Marine life rebounded during the world wars. The same is happening now
During both world wars, the global demand for fish and seafood plummeted, forcing fishing fleets to stay at the docks while fish stocks rebounded. Now it seems a similar effect is coming into play as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The closure of restaurants and hotels, the main buyers of Read More...
Happy International Dark Sky Week! Here’s how to celebrate virtually
This week is International Dark Sky Week. Although astronomers and stargazers are not meeting up in-person this year to gaze up at our marvelous night sky, enthusiasts are still celebrating online and from the comfort of their homes. International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has put together a Read More...
Ambitious experiment aims to protect the Great Barrier Reef from bleaching
The Great Barrier Reef is facing its first mass bleaching event in five years as a result of climate change and the record ocean temperatures. In a bid to mitigate the ecosystem’s loss and protect it from warming, scientists from the University of Sydney have recently experimented with a Read More...
What does it mean for the climate when oil prices fall below $0?
As you probably heard this week, the price of oil has actually crashed below $0 for the first time in history. At a time when the world needs to transition from fossil fuels to avoid the even bigger catastrophe of climate change, what does the state of the industry mean for the climate? Some Read More...
This series will take you to the world's most ingenious homes
We at the Optimist Daily are always curious about the latest developments in architecture and design. It came to our attention that Apple TV+ has a pretty incredible documentary series out that will take you to some of the world’s most intriguing dwellings. All the episodes in the series Read More...
April 21, 2020
The Optimist Daily Update with Summers McKay & Kristy Jansen - Your weekday commute update from The Optimist Daily featuring our top 5 positive news solutions from independent, reader-funded, journalists. Listen in to start your day with a positive solutions mindset and share with someone else who Read More...