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.
These floating islands will form a “parkipelago” in Copenhagen’s harbor
The Optimist Daily is always curious about the latest ideas in urban development and design. In 2021, we're expecting to see the completion of an exciting new project in the Danish capital in which a series of small artificial floating islands are being built and installed together within the Read More...
Can hydropower help clean up commercial ammonia production?
Ammonia is a colorless, noxious gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. It is used for a number of different things from producing dyes to treating wastewater, but it’s most common industrial use in the production of fertilizer. Although useful, the production of ammonia is anything Read More...
An increasing number of brands are adding carbon labels to their products
While most supermarket food packages have nutritional labels that help consumers make informed decisions about the food they buy, it’s rare to find similar information about the environmental footprint that these products carry. That, however, may soon change as an increasing number of companies Read More...
Scientists discover ‘giant luminous shark’ off New Zealand coast
The ability for living organisms to produce visible light through a chemical reaction is known as bioluminescence, and it’s one of the most spectacular phenomenons found in nature. Bioluminescence has been observed in a wide range of marine life such as jellyfish and algae, but recently, marine Read More...
These garbage-collecting sea bins will use AI to monitor pollution data
In 2013, surfer duo Peter Ceglinski and Andrew Turton developed a device, called Seabin, that could clean waterways on its own. A few years later, the duo had a slightly different vision — to live in a world where there’s no need for its product. "Our ultimate goal is pretty simple: It's a Read More...
Get paid for sending old, shabby clothes to this fashion brand
More consumers are moving away from fast fashion in favor of purchasing clothes from thrift shops and businesses that prioritize the well-being of the planet above their profit margins. But where you get your fashion fix is only part of the environmental problem when it comes to Read More...
Study: EVs are hundreds of times less wasteful than gas models
Electric vehicles eliminate the harmful emissions of their gas and diesel-powered counterparts, but there is still environmental concern regarding the raw materials used in their production, specifically in batteries. While battery circularity is improving, a new study has found that even with Read More...
Scientists observe whale sharks regrowing damaged fins for the first time
Whale sharks are remarkable creatures, known to be the largest fish on Earth. Such a grand title draws a lot of attention from tourists and marine life enthusiasts and this popularity means they are also at a higher risk of injury due to interactions with boats and people contending for a glimpse Read More...
Northeastern project shows how green infrastructure saves lives and money
We all know that biking and walking are good for our physical health, but it turns out the benefits of promoting these healthy transportation options go far beyond personal health and wellness. A new study analyzing the health and economic benefits of a proposed green infrastructure project found Read More...
7 ways to make the most out of your almost empty condiment jars
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM We are all familiar with the dilemma of what to do with an almost empty condiment jar. What’s left at the bottom and along the sides of the jar isn’t enough to do anything substantial with, but the contents are just enough so that disposing of it would Read More...