Chicago is seeing book returns surge 240% after the mayor eliminated fees
A little over a month ago, we published a story about Chicago libraries doing away with overdue book fees, which are disproportionately affecting the city’s lower-income residents. Now, one month since the fines were eliminated, Chicago libraries are reporting a 240 percent increase in the number Read More...
How to see Mercury soar in front of the sun today
If you are a fan of sky gazing, you will have a unique opportunity to see Mercury glide in front of the sun today, November 11. The event known as the Transit of Mercury is only visible for people in the western hemisphere, and it won’t occur again until 2032. This year, Mercury will take Read More...
Greta Thunberg effect: How carbon offsetting has spiked in the past 18 months
She is 16-years-old, and she already has a phenomenon named after her called the “Greta Thunberg effect”. It refers to the huge increase in individuals and businesses choosing to offset their emissions by investing in carbon-reducing projects in developing countries. Ever since Thunberg’s Read More...
Bravo! Italy becomes first country to mandate climate change education in school
As much as climate change is a threat to us, it’s an even bigger threat to our children. That’s why it’s a bit shocking that no country has made courses on climate change a mandatory part of the education curriculum. That is, until now. This week, Italy announced that it will become the Read More...
This beach in Finland is completely covered in rare ‘ice eggs’
For years the Optimist Daily has been writing about natural phenomenons, and yet, we continue to be surprised that they happen in our awe-inspiring world. This week, something very rare happened in Finland that we bet you have never seen before. Walking along a beach on the Hailuoto island of Read More...
Coffee pods finally have a biodegradable alternative
The coffee pod is a nemesis to environmentalists, overflowing landfills across Europe and America by the millions. These pods, which are made from aluminum and plastic, are an especially frustrating source of waste because there are simply much greener ways of making coffee that require just as Read More...
Brazil is rolling out a full-on basic income program for over 50,000 people
Can basic income programs help people achieve a better standard of living and rise out of poverty? The jury is still out, mainly because we don’t have enough data to inform the jury. That’s why it’s great news that a massive basic income program featuring more than 50,000 participants is Read More...
An Australian university is using a giant water battery to become carbon neutral
The University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia is setting a shining example of how the power of sunlight can be used to keep buildings cool. Recently, the Queensland university invested in a giant water battery that stands three-stories high. The giant battery harnesses power from over 6,000 Read More...
This carbon-negatives raincoat is made entirely from algae bioplastic
A New York designer, by the name of Charlotte McCurdy, has created a water-resistant jacket made from a bioplastic material derived entirely from large-celled algae. Because the jacket is made of algae, which is the single biggest capturer of CO2 from the atmosphere, it’s technically Read More...
New modular units could restore dignity to transitional homeless shelters
Inside a typical transitional homeless shelter, where people stay while waiting to get a spot in permanent housing, 20 or 30 beds might be clustered together in a single room. Privacy doesn’t exist. But a new, modular design (not shown in photo) for shelter furniture, called Dome—a little like Read More...