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.
How to sustainably dispose of your Halloween pumpkins
Halloween is officially over, but do you know what’s even scarier than ghosts and ghouls? That decomposing jack-o-lantern on your front porch. Rather than throwing your fuzzy gourds into the trash, use one of these more eco-friendly methods to dispose of your spooky decorations. Compost or bury Read More...
The role of whale conservation in tackling climate change
While we tend to think of forests as the world's primary natural carbon sinks, that’s only true on land. When it comes to our oceans, a huge carbon sink comes in an unexpected form: whales. That’s right, these amazing mammals store humongous amounts of carbon dioxide in their bodies as they Read More...
11-Year-old is on a mission to clean the Seine
Many people who visit France are drawn to the romantic banks of the Seine, the river that flows through the northern part of the country, inspiring artists and lovers with its glistening waters. The Seine has retained its beauty through history, however, these days it hides the improperly discarded Read More...
Good news! Climate tech startups have raised more money than ever this year
This year may not have been the easiest year to get through—we find ourselves still reeling from the pandemic and on top of that, we are also dealing with extreme weather and the consequences of climate change. That said, according to a new report from Dealroom and London & Partners, it Read More...
Researchers identify rare parthenogenesis births in California condors
The resurgence of the California condor is an inspiring case study for conservationists. There are now more than 500 condors living in the wild in the state, up from just 22 in 1982. The birds continue to surprise and amaze scientists as geneticists have confirmed that two of the birds reproduced Read More...
Why do leaves change color in the fall?
The vibrant colors of autumn leaves is one of the best parts of the fall season, but why exactly do trees put on this colorful display each year? Today we’re exploring the scientific reasons behind one of nature’s most gorgeous phenomena. Preparing for winter As the weather slowly starts to Read More...
Alphabet makes its low-cost water harvester open-source
According to WHO/UNICEF, about a third of the global population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water. More than half of these people, however, live in areas with just the right climate conditions to enable special water harvesting technologies to provide clean drinking water. This is Read More...
Cape Verde's sea turtle conservation efforts prove to be a resounding success
The West African island nation of Cape Verde is experiencing first-hand the rewards of years of conservation effort. In the past five years, Cape Verde has seen a surge in sea turtle populations across all 10 of its islands. According to the country’s environment ministry, last year’s nest Read More...
Sustainable renovation tips from an interior designer
If you’re thinking of giving your interior space a facelift before heading into the winter season but want to go about it in the most eco-friendly way possible, Toronto-based interior designer Rebecca Hay has some inspirational home design ideas that prioritize style and sustainability. Reduce, Read More...
Newly discovered spooky parasite eats and replaces fish tongues
If creepy crawlies and frightening monsters are your thing, then we’ve got a story for you. Officials at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have discovered a peculiar parasite just in time for Halloween. The parasite doesn’t just feast on fish’s tongues—it replaces it and continues Read More...