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.
New solar windows allow more light to pass through than ever before
Over the years, we’ve written a number of stories about the potential of solar windows that could convert light into energy. The technology, however, has yet to take off. The main problem is that the solar windows created thus far have been too opaque, failing to allow much light to come Read More...
The surprising reason you should turn your camera off during Zoom calls
To all of you who have been keeping their cameras off during Zoom calls, well done. You may have simply been trying to hide your face, but what you might not have realized is that you were drastically cutting your carbon footprint. In a new study, researchers analyzed the environmental effect Read More...
Seagrass balls remove millions of plastic particles from the ocean
From improving water quality and sequestering CO2 to providing a natural nursery and crucial habitat for hundreds of species of fish, the vital role that seagrass plays in marine ecosystems is evident. Now researchers have discovered that these wondrous swaying plants may also clean up some of the Read More...
Elusive wolverine caught on Yellowstone wildlife camera for the first time
A camera trap set up to track the movement of cougars in Yellowstone National Park has captured an even more elusive creature: a wolverine. According to the park, this is the first time the rare mammal has been caught on a wildlife camera. Installed in 2014 with the aim of capturing cougars Read More...
Scientists discover a “spectacular” bright orange bat species in Africa
In early 2018, a group of scientists ventured off to conduct a conservation survey of bat populations in Guinea’s isolated Nimba Mountains in West Africa. The researchers were sleuthing in a series of old mining caves when they came across something unusual: a new species of bat with a fiery Read More...
New Zealand city closes busy road for weeks to let sea lions nest safely
The harbor city of Dunedin in New Zealand regularly shuts down roads during the summer months to allow safe passage to wildlife. These closures typically last no longer than one or two days at a time. This year though, the city council decided to close a popular road for an entire month in order Read More...
Ikea just bought a forest in Georgia to keep it protected
A forest in Georgia covering nearly 11,000 acres was on the verge of being sold and developed when an unlikely savior appeared: Ikea, the Swedish furniture giant. At the moment, Ikea is on a mission to become “climate positive” by 2030. Climate positive means Ikea wants to reduce more Read More...
The European bison is no longer classified as “vulnerable”
In 2003, the population of the European bison stood at just 1,800 individuals, leading scientists at the International Union for Conservation and Nature to classify the animal as “vulnerable.” This led to a number of conservation initiatives, including the 5-year LIFE Bison project, which Read More...
Ivory Coast designates first-ever marine sanctuary
Grand-Bereby is a tiny western town on the Ivory Coast home to mangroves, reefs, and important nesting grounds for sea turtles. It is also home to the Ivory Coast’s first-ever marine protected area. The 1,000 square mile area is the first of five that the Ivory Coast government has Read More...
Children's hospital integrates nature within its design to improve wellbeing
The health benefits of integrating nature within our built environment have long been made clear by research, so it makes perfect sense that design studio Perkins and Will has decided to do just that when it was commissioned to design a healthcare facility that caters to children with autism. The Read More...