Today’s Solutions: March 29, 2024

Climate Action

What is Climate Action? Climate Action is humanity's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance our planet's resilience against climate change. From adaptation to mitigation, at The Optimist Daily you will learn about the most recent positive news stories and solutions targeting climate change and other environmental issues.

Carbon Crusher vehicle that crushes old roads for recycling

This startup uses a plant-derived material to make roads carbon negative

Similar to building new roads, repairing existing ones is not an environmentally friendly endeavor. One of the main problems is bitumen, a fossil fuel-derived binder that holds asphalt together. A startup in Norway is recycling old roads using a plant-based binder instead, a process that could Read More...

Pile of ripe potatoes on ground in field.

Banana paper saves potatoes by blocking worm communication

The potato cyst nematode is a pathogenic worm and something of a global menace. When these little critters come across potato farms they infest the crops, drastically reducing yield and size. Some areas of Africa see a 60 percent decline in potato yield after infestation, negatively affecting Read More...

Young Black male texts while waiting for EV charge

Quantum charging could cut EV charging from hours to minutes

Current owners of electric vehicles can cruise along knowing that they’re not adding any CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. While they can ride guilt-free, these joy rides can still be inconvenienced by the headache of having to wait around half an hour at a high-powered public charger, or even Read More...

woman looks dissatisfied with spring cleaning products

3 eco-friendly swaps to “green up” this year’s spring cleaning

A common response to the increase in sunshine and fresh spring air is an undeniable desire to purge the heaviness of winter from our homes and make everything feel as clean and new as the budding light-green baby leaves on the trees outside. Even though spring cleaning can be hard work, Read More...

Wastewater energy

Oregon wastewater facility makes its own power with human waste

Two weeks ago, we wrote a piece on upcycling your “business,” going into the green uses some companies found for human waste. Innovation and recycling mean looking everywhere possible for solutions, and The Optimist Daily loves writing about the ones that are found… even if they come out of Read More...

Mushrooms

Always growing: a dive back into the marvelous world of mushrooms

“Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom.” - Thomas Carlyle, Scottish philosopher, and essayist Science is ever-changing. Scientists and physicians used to be sure that contagions and diseases were spread from person to person by smell. This was called the Miasma Theory, and Read More...

Gray fox in tree

More trees may save gray foxes from coyotes

The Optimist Daily has recently written a great deal on the need to coexist with animals, respecting animal agency and the potential to reach a new symbiosis with our furry neighbors on the planet. This brings into our consideration how to adapt our own human environments to better suit the habits Read More...

Portrait of a girl wearing face protective mask at Youth strike for climate in protest of climate change policy.

5 simple steps to become a climate activist in everyday life

We recently posted an article discussing impactful changes we can make in our personal lives to help avoid a climate crisis. If you still have a fire within you to enact planet saving change in your community, then maybe consider becoming a climate activist. Being a climate activist doesn’t Read More...

Young Honduran woman wearing green holds Honduran flag and gives thumbs up

UK supports youth-driven climate organization, Sustenta Honduras

Local and youth-driven non-profit organization Sustenta Honduras has a clear goal: to empower Honduran youth to promote sustainable development and public participation to meet the country’s, and the world’s, needs in facing the climate crisis. While it is true that the entire world and Read More...

James Dyson Award

The James Dyson Award: a call to young inventors

The Optimist Daily has written about many winners of the James Dyson Award. This is an international design award that celebrates, encourages, and inspires the next generation of design engineers. It is open to current and recent design engineering students and is run by the James Dyson Foundation, Read More...