Study: How crop diversification boosts agricultural yields
Monoculture, the practice of planting a single crop over great expanses of agricultural land, has drained our soil of the biodiversity and nutrients needed to produce high quality, nutritious foods. A new study from Emory University demonstrates just how efficient our agricultural systems can be Read More...
This shapeshifting bulletproof material is inspired by Batman
New shape-shifting material developed by scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and Caltech in the US was inspired by ancient chainmail armor and Batman’s cape-turned-glider from the 2005 Batman Begins. The fabric, which is described by the team as a type of “wearable Read More...
August 17, 2021
We've got a period poverty solution and news of a brand new international Dark Sky Park today on the Update. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
August 17, 2021
We've got a period poverty solution and news of a brand new international Dark Sky Park today on the Update. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
This platform redirects power to critical sites during an outage
When a winter storm hit Texas in February, it has brought some of the coldest weather the state has seen in decades. The deep freeze led to a massive electricity generation failure, leaving millions of people without power for several days. The ensuing power crisis revealed multiple problems with Read More...
This climate-friendly cooling unit cuts the CO2 footprint of HVAC by 75%
As the world keeps getting warmer, air conditioners are likely to become an increasingly common element of home design. With that said, these appliances are themselves a burden on the environment because they’re so energy-hungry. The same goes for heaters that are intended to keep us warm during Read More...
US and Canada establish first international transboundary Dark Sky Park
If you enjoyed last week’s Perseid Meteor Shower and want to see more night sky action, we’ve got good news. The US and Canada have established the world’s newest International Dark Sky Park for star-lovers to enjoy. The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is a collaborative National Read More...
Choose these blooms for longer-lasting bouquets
Are you tired of buying fresh cut flowers only to have them wilt in a few days? We’ve got a solution for you! In addition to making your own cut flower food, you can opt for flower varieties with proven longer vase lives. Here are six flower types that will hold up longer after being Read More...
Two new dinosaur species discovered in China
A great number of dinosaur fossils have been discovered in China's northwest region in recent years and a new study confirms that the region has yielded two fossils of previously unknown dinosaurs the size of blue whales. The two new species, which are named Silutitan sinensis and Hamititan Read More...
This nonprofit helps nature reclaim coal mines in the Appalachians
The world is shifting toward renewable sources of energy, which means there are plenty of coal mines left unused. However, Green Forests Work, a nonprofit based in Kentucky is working on a solution to restore the once-surface-mined land to its natural glory while generating jobs for local tree Read More...