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.
Engineers receive grant to create rail car powered by human waste
In the near future, people in the UK may be transported on trains that run on human waste. Yes, you read that right. Last month, Ultra Light Rail Partners received £60,000 ($81,540) from the government’s Sustainable Innovation Fund to further develop a train that runs on biomethane, a type of Read More...
This refillable deodorant from Dove avoids single-use plastic packaging
As the plastic crisis becomes harder to avoid, big brands are under increasing pressure to shift their practices towards sustainability. One of the latest brands to do so is Dove. Looking to provide a better alternative to the single-use plastic deodorant stick, which ends up in a bin within Read More...
Portable cleaner makes menstrual cups convenient and even more sustainable
Menstrual cups are a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons, but using them out and about often requires washing them in a public sink. To make their use easier for women everywhere, Emanui has designed a portable menstrual cup cleaner that makes the cleaning process more Read More...
These lightweight drones are made from old pineapple leaves
Farmers in Malaysia often burn or throw away pineapple leaves after the fruit has been harvested for the season. Researchers from Putra University have found an ingenious new use for these leaves by repurposing them into a lightweight, sustainable drone. Led by Professor Mohamed Thariq Hameed Read More...
EVs greatly outsold gas-powered cars in Norway last year
Only when people start purchasing more electric vehicles than gas-powered ones can we truly say that the EV revolution is underway. Although the US still has a long way to go until that point is reached, there is one country where more than half of all cars sold are electric: Norway. According to Read More...
Startup transforms 32m discarded chopsticks into sleek household items
Have you ever wondered what happens to the chopsticks we carelessly throw away after using them only once? Well, unsurprisingly, the vast majority of them end up in landfills, further contributing to the unsurmountable pile of waste burdening waste management capacities. In a bid to instead give Read More...
Korean student creates colorful stools out of used face masks
One of the most unfortunate side-effects of the coronavirus pandemic is the massive amount of waste coming from disposable face masks. According to one estimate, the world goes through 129 billion single-use face masks each month during the pandemic. In an attempt to turn this ecological disaster Read More...
This bike wheel filters and purifies outdoor air while you cycle
Wouldn’t it be great if you could help improve the air quality in your city just by cycling on its streets? Soon you might actually be able to do that thanks to a brilliant invention called Rolloe. Created by Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) 2020 award winner Kristen Tapping, Rolloe is an Read More...
Scientists identified 503 new animal species in 2020
While 2020 was most definitely a year of uncertainty, scientists at London’s Natural History Museum were certainly pleased to wrap up the year by announcing that, over the last 12 months, they’ve identified a total of 503 new species belonging to almost all kingdoms of life. As a result of Read More...
Scientists use 3D printer to create fungus-based soundproofing material
When it comes to producing acoustic insulation, the materials typically used are synthetic or mineral-based materials. While these materials are effective, they are not easily recyclable and the production process is usually quite energy-intensive. In search of a greener alternative, Read More...