This self-healing concrete fixes its own cracks to last longer
Concrete is responsible for around nine percent of global CO2 emissions — that’s three times more than the airline industry. Those emissions come from the material’s production and transportation, as well as repairs associated with its degradation. Though some innovators are working on Read More...
Mr. Trash Wheel is keeping Baltimore’s Harbor free of trash
Trash interceptors have become an increasingly popular tool in our efforts to help prevent plastic waste from escaping into the ocean. More than a year ago, we shared a story about some of the most popular projects around the world using interceptors to capture plastics in rivers. Among them was Read More...
Save children from malnutrition by playing LifePack video games
The Eleanor Crook Foundation (ECF) in collaboration with social impact agency Hive has launched a new initiative called LifePack that uses video games to address severe malnutrition, the cause of almost half of worldwide deaths of children under the age of five. For every 25 cents raised through Read More...
Save water in your yard with these drought-resistant plants
With 17 countries around the world facing high water stress and drought, you might be asking yourself, what can we do to help save water? In addition to practicing water smart behavior in the home like saving wastewater and repairing leaky faucets, changing the way you look at the outside of your Read More...
North Carolina is turning old industrial buildings into new community spaces
As many industries shift to meet modern market demands, regions that used to be bustling centers for coal, oil, steel, and other raw materials are now falling into economic despair. Many experts have cited new renewable energy jobs as a solution to this problem, but in some North Carolina towns, Read More...
Michelin develops inflatable sails to cut the carbon footprint of shipping
While the Michelin Group is commonly known for its travel guides and tires, as well as awarding restaurants for their cooking, the company now wants to help the shipping industry slash its humongous carbon footprint. How? By designing Wing Sail Mobility (WISAMO) — an inflatable sail system that Read More...
June 16, 2021
It's an animal-themed day on the Update with stories about the world's first bionic bird and an explosives-sniffing rat which has saved thousands of lives in Cambodia. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
June 16, 2021
It's an animal-themed day on the Update with stories about the world's first bionic bird and an explosives-sniffing rat which has saved thousands of lives in Cambodia. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
No more lawns: Las Vegas takes big step to address drought
In a city known for its lavish landscape, one wasteful decorative feature is getting the boot as Las Vegas announces a ban on ornamental grass. The ban comes as the state of Nevada faces a historic and devastating drought exacerbated by climate change. Many other cities have implemented Read More...
This water-filtering pool in NYC will clean the waters of the East River
For many New Yorkers, the idea of swimming in the East River is far from enticing — the body of water has been deemed “unswimmable” since the 1930s due to its high levels of pollution. However, that may soon change thanks to an exciting new project called + POOL, which will clean the river Read More...