Namibia: A simple switch of fishing gear is saving thousands of seabirds
Fishing boats off the coast of Namibia unintentionally kill thousands of seabirds a year. The problem lies with the long fishing lines that industrial fleets use to lure fish, which are fitted with thousands of baited hooks. When the birds try to snatch away the bait, they can become tangled in Read More...
3 Ways to be more confident heading into your next interview
OK. You have found a job you actually want to do and have landed an interview. Great job. Now comes the challenging part: showing your potential employer that you are fit for the job. Going into an interview can be a nerve-wracking experience, but if you follow these three tips, you’ll be sure to Read More...
Pink seesaws at US-Mexico border wins Design of the Year 2020
We all know how deeply politicized the US-Mexico border wall has been during the past four years, but for a brief moment of time, designers from architecture studio Rael San Fratello were able to foster a sense of unity at a section of the wall. This happened through a project called the Read More...
Scientists use renewable energy to turn CO2 and water into synthetic fuel
While we work towards a future where all vehicles are electric, it's important we find greener ways to fuel the combustion vehicles in service today. With that in mind, researchers have figured out a way to make fuel for gas-burning cars using renewable energy. The novel process involves combining Read More...
New process separates fabric microplastics into harmless CO2 and H2O
We recently shared a story about balls of seaweed that help collect plastic from the seafloor, but the question still remains, what do we do with this plastic once we collect it? Researchers from Quebec's Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) may have an answer with their new Read More...
A local pizzeria is feeding National Guard troops ahead of the inauguration
During the general election, we shared a story about a non-profit bringing pizza to hungry voters waiting in line. Now, we’ve got another patriotic pizza story for you. This time aptly named restaurant, We the Pizza, is delivering meals to the 20,000 National Guard troops protecting the Capitol Read More...
This biodegradable alternative to Styrofoam is made from discarded paper
As it’s non-biodegradable and a pain to recycle, Styrofoam packaging is one of the most pernicious types of plastic pollution. But thanks to an eco-friendly alternative developed by a group of scientists from Germany, it may not be long until the outdated plastic material becomes a thing of the Read More...
The Optimist View: Reflections on activism from Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons
“If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children's birthright.” - Amanda Gorman BY: AMELIA BUCKLEY As we celebrated the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, many Americans contemplated the profound impact of his Read More...
Luis Martinez will inspire you to travel the world without leaving home
Luis Martinez has written over 3,000 vivid poems describing beautiful places all around the world, but he has one characteristic that makes him stand out from other travel writers. He has never left his home country of Cuba. Martinez has worked as a bus porter in the Cuban city of Trinidad for Read More...
January 19, 2021
Today we're discussing what made West Virginia's nursing home covid-19 vaccine rollout particularly successful and how hiking is good for your brain. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...