This bacteria "eats" carbon emissions and makes useful chemicals
Scientists at LanzaTech in Illinois have engineered some exciting new bacteria that actually transform carbon dioxide into ethanol and isopropanol, compounds used in paint remover and hand sanitizer. Michael Köpke and his colleagues went on a hunt for strains of the ethanol-producing bacterium, Read More...
This startup uses electrochemistry to capture carbon
A tricky part of carbon capture technology is the energy required to pull it off. Many critics, while agreeing on the need to pull carbon dioxide out of the air, say that existing technologies might produce more emissions than they remove. Now, startups are getting creative to optimize carbon Read More...
History provides context: A modern timeline of Ukraine-Russia relations
Part of what happens when a dramatic event shocks the world is that the headline news cycle moves fast in one direction, and we can lose sight of the context within which these events are occurring. The answer to that cycle is to seek out historical context. An excellent overview of the key events Read More...
This cheeky browser helps you pursue climate action
As the urgency to take action against climate change becomes more apparent in our day-to-day lives, an increasing number of people — especially younger generations — are experiencing feelings of eco-anxiety. These overwhelming feelings are only exacerbated by recurrent news headlines about Read More...
Exercise trains your fat to help you age well
When you exercise, you train your muscles and your cardiovascular system, and even improve your immune system. Did you know that when you regularly exercise you are also training your fat cells? A recent study from the University of Copenhagen shows that properly trained fat cells actually Read More...
Is this the end of organ transplant shortages?
According to the HRSA, 17 deaths occur in the US every day due to not receiving an organ before an illness progresses too far. Waiting times are on average three to five years, so it's about time we came up with some alternative solutions. A recent advance that hugely helped this effort was the Read More...
How caffeine may reduce your risk of heart attack
You might be enjoying a cup of coffee while you read this. Many of us enjoy the ritual of a morning coffee or tea, a little pick-me-up to clear the fog from our morning brain. Caffeine perks you up, helps your heart, and, sure, gives you the jitters if you have too much, but did you know that it Read More...
Reproductive justice: Colombia decriminalizes abortion
Following in the footsteps of Latin American countries such as Mexico and Argentina, Colombia’s constitutional court ruled five against four to decriminalize abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, as reported by The Guardian. Prior to this motion, abortion in Colombia was only Read More...
Here's how we can help Ukraine right now
On early Thursday morning, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is hard to say exactly how this historical event will play out, however, right now, Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are suffering. Many of us probably feel like we are already maxed out on historical trauma, what with Read More...
This highway was made from recycled diapers
Recycling plastic to create a new purpose for it is nothing new. Here at The Optimist Daily, we’ve previously shared how innovators have reused this material to create blocks for building, a sleek chair, and LEGO bricks. A diaper highway For the first time, the plastic in diapers is being Read More...