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.
This is how lobsters are helping make 3D-printed concrete stronger
In recent years, 3D concrete printing has emerged as an attractive candidate to reimagine the construction industry — one of the biggest sources of environmental pollution in the world. But making concrete durable enough for building complex structures is still an obstacle. Seeking to overcome Read More...
Namibia: A simple switch of fishing gear is saving thousands of seabirds
Fishing boats off the coast of Namibia unintentionally kill thousands of seabirds a year. The problem lies with the long fishing lines that industrial fleets use to lure fish, which are fitted with thousands of baited hooks. When the birds try to snatch away the bait, they can become tangled in Read More...
New process separates fabric microplastics into harmless CO2 and H2O
We recently shared a story about balls of seaweed that help collect plastic from the seafloor, but the question still remains, what do we do with this plastic once we collect it? Researchers from Quebec's Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) may have an answer with their new Read More...
This biodegradable alternative to Styrofoam is made from discarded paper
As it’s non-biodegradable and a pain to recycle, Styrofoam packaging is one of the most pernicious types of plastic pollution. But thanks to an eco-friendly alternative developed by a group of scientists from Germany, it may not be long until the outdated plastic material becomes a thing of the Read More...
These sleek sneakers are made from mushroom-derived leather
With giant brands like Adidas and Stella McCartney embracing the incredible potential of mycelium to replace animal-derived leather, it seems fungi will play a huge role in transitioning the fashion industry towards greener production practices. With that being said, it’s good to see that it’s Read More...
New York’s popular park High Line will expand to improve pedestrian access
For more than a decade the High Line project — which transformed a run-down railway track into an elevated park in the lower Manhattan — has been a symbol of creative urban renewal, showing how the city can find refreshing ways to reimagine decaying spaces. Now, the popular park is slated to Read More...
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...