Environment
Need some good news about the environment? The Optimist Daily is your go-to herald of positive environmental news, highlighting eco-friendly solutions and scientific progress around climate action, circularity, conservation, and more. Learn about everything eco in our Environment section.
Algae wrapped in droplets improves efficiency of artificial photosynthesis
In our quest for the most sustainable, most renewable sources of energy, humanity continues to look to nature for inspiration. One of nature’s most efficient energy systems is photosynthesis, which is how plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into chemical energy to fuel themselves. Read More...
Wildlife filmaker provides a unique insight into the daily lives of bees
You may have seen bees flying around your backyard or local park, but it can be difficult for the naked human eye to grasp the full complexity of the lives of these pollinators. During the pandemic, wildlife filmmaker Martin Dohrn decided to shed some light on the secret lives of bees. Filming Read More...
California grants leatherback sea turtles further protection
For decades, the population of the great Pacific leatherback turtle off the California coast has declined by 5.6 percent per year. To address this devastating loss, California’s Fish and Game Commission recently voted to list the turtle as endangered under the state’s own Endangered Species Read More...
Study: Algae can resurrect tadpole brain cells
Essential organisms such as plants, microalgae, and certain types of bacteria carry out photosynthesis. This key process releases oxygen into the atmosphere for the rest of us dependent species to feed off and carry out respiration. Every cell in every living thing on earth respires and is the Read More...
Eco-friendly ways to deal with your cat's kitty litter
Yesterday we wrote about the most eco-friendly ways dog owners can manage their furry companions' waste. Now, we will tackle the same topic, but for cat litter. Cat litter can be an incredible waste. It is often full of potentially harmful chemicals as well. Don’t fret, though. There are a few Read More...
EPA draws up a plan to regulate the use of dangerous “forever chemicals”
Back in 2016, the Obama administration enacted an unenforceable recommendation that limited the amount of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), otherwise known as “forever chemicals” for their inability to degrade in nature, to 70 parts per trillion or less in any given product. Read More...
This company takes drone-assisted reforestation to the next level
We’ve written about the use of drones for medical access, ecosystem restoration, and pollution-spotting, but Seattle-based DroneSeed has their own specific drone mission: reforesting after wildfires. The concept of using drones for reforestation isn’t new, but DroneSeed has perfected the Read More...
Hummingbird-like moth has the longest tongue of any insect in the world
When Charles Darwin came across the long-necked Angraecum sesquipedale orchid species (also known as Darwin’s orchid) on the island of Madagascar, he had a curious thought: There must be an insect on the island with a tongue long enough to feed itself on the plant. “Good heavens,” he Read More...
Eco-friendly ways to deal with your dog’s waste
If you’re a dog parent, then you know by now that your dog is capable of generating a surprising quantity of waste. Here are some environmentally friendly ways to manage the waste they generate. Let’s start with #1 Dogs pee a lot. It’s how they tag their territories and let other dogs know Read More...
This gigantic vertical greenhouse uses 100% natural light
Vertical farming is an amazing solution that allows us to grow fresh produce using a fraction of the water and land that traditional agriculture requires. That said, most vertical farms need a lot of heating and artificial light. The use of 100 percent natural light is what sets Shockingly Read More...