German farm demonstrates dual benefits of agrivoltaic systems
Agrivoltaic systems make for the perfect symbiotic relationships on farms. They combine solar panels and farming to provide localized renewable energy while helping shade crops to reduce water usage. The plants also work to cool the solar panels for increased productivity. At one farm in Germany, Read More...
Play is powerful: How to make the most children’s free play time
Back in November, we shared how children are using play to understand and process the pandemic. Enacting events through play is how children come to terms with change, which means that parents and caregivers can use this to their advantage in helping children process new situations. Focusing on Read More...
August 11, 2021
Minds and mustangs are on deck on the Update today! Tune in to learn about a new technology addressing brain health and an unusual partnership offering healing for both horses and veterans in upstate New York. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
August 11, 2021
Minds and mustangs are on deck on the Update today! Tune in to learn about a new technology addressing brain health and an unusual partnership offering healing for both horses and veterans in upstate New York. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
Researchers make a surprising discovery about common west coast flower
The western false asphodel, or Triantha occidentalis, was first noted in the scientific record in 1879 and commonly dwells in bogs near urban centers of the Pacific Northwest. Despite being on scientists’ radar for over 140 years, it was not until very recently that researchers discovered a Read More...
Dole is partnering with Piñatex to scale up vegan leather production
A few months ago we wrote a story about Piñatex, an innovative company turning pineapple leaves into vegan, petroleum-free leather products. Now, food giant and pineapple distributor Dole Sunshine Company has partnered with Piñatex to minimize waste from their operations and scale-up Read More...
Veterans and wild mustangs find mutual healing in upstate New York
In the village of Honeoye Falls, New York, an unusual partnership is taking root. 200 acres in the town is home to nonprofit EquiCenter, an equine therapy center focused on supporting veterans with PTSD and rehabilitating wild mustangs with a mutually beneficial training program. Many of the Read More...
August 10, 2021
Today we're talking about how a simply parking policy can boost green transportation and a novel material making heat energy transfer more efficient. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
August 10, 2021
Today we're talking about how a simply parking policy can boost green transportation and a novel material making heat energy transfer more efficient. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the Read More...
Simple parking policy incentivizes employees to take greener routes to work
A key goal of public transportation is to reduce the number of cars on the road and therefore improve air quality and reduce emissions, especially in urban areas, but a small detail in the US federal tax code is actually working against this goal. The federal tax code has an exemption for Read More...