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.
Sustainable supersonic jets could soon take to the skies
In 1947, the first supersonic jet took to the skies, with American pilot Chuck Yeager becoming the first to break the sound barrier. To make the technology mainstream, the British and French governments joined forces to create the Concorde: the first commercial-sized supersonic jet capable of Read More...
Swedish grocery store prices items based on their carbon footprint
We make decisions at the grocery store based on how much things cost, but when was the last time you made a purchase decision based on the carbon cost of a product? A new grocery store in Sweden is making it easier to shop consciously with the price of items based on their carbon Read More...
Nearly a third of California land to be conserved by 2030 under new order
The year 2020 has seen millions of acres of California land ravaged due to unstoppable wildfires. To protect the state from further damage in the future, Governor Gavin Newsome has announced an executive order to reserve 30 percent of state land for conservation by 2030. The executive order will Read More...
Adidas creates incredible robot that weaves zero-waste running shoes
Footwear is taking a giant step into the future thanks to an incredible custom-built robot from Adidas. Inspired by string art (the weaving of thread between nails to create a pleasing pattern), the robot can weave individual threads of raw yarn diagonally across the midsole of a shoe. This not Read More...
Shark barrier protects swimmers from attacks in an animal-friendly way
Shark nets are often used to protect swimmers and surfers from shark attacks, but often they not only fail to do their job but also pose a deadly threat to marine life. In a bid to come up with a safer and more effective alternative, a team of scientists in South Africa has developed an Read More...
12 companies turning food waste into wealth
As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and this is the driving philosophy behind the companies upcycling food waste into new products. The Upcycled Food Association (UFA) defined upcycled food products as those which "use ingredients that otherwise would not have gone Read More...
Better late than never: Petco to stop selling ‘shock’ collars
Despite long-standing opposition from animal rights activists over the use of electronic ‘shock’ collars, pet retail corporation Petco has continued to sell them all these years. But that’s set to change after Petco announced on Tuesday that it will no longer sell electronic collars, making Read More...
Waymo is now offering the Phoenix public rides in its driverless cars
The Google self-driving project Waymo started testing its driverless technology in the city of Phoenix back in 2017. Now, three years later, Waymo has announced plans to open its fully autonomous cars to the city’s wider population. In a similar style to Uber or Lyft, people can now book a trip Read More...
Prince William launches Earthshot Prize to inspire climate solutions
England’s Prince William, aka the Duke of Cambridge, has announced what is being billed as “the most prestigious global environment prize in history.” The Earthshot prize, as it’s called, will award £50 million ($64.5 million) over 10 years to help find solutions to repair the planet by Read More...
This startup makes diamonds out of CO2 captured from the atmosphere
From worker exploitation to environmental degradation, mined diamonds are fraught with problems. And while synthetically made gems are marketed to be more ethical, they are often made from fossil fuels. Looking to cover all ethical bases, a startup found a way to produce diamonds that are not only Read More...