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.
Scientists discover 30 new species of deep sea marine life in the Galapagos
The charted world of ocean life has gotten slightly bigger as marine scientists have recently discovered 30 new species of invertebrates deep beneath the ocean’s surface surrounding the rocky Galapagos Islands off of the coast of Ecuador. An international team of marine scientists from the Read More...
Scientists say mealworms could serve as alternative source of protein
Population booms in developing countries have led to a shortage of protein sources. For that reason, scientists from Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) have proposed yellow mealworms as an alternative protein source for animals and, possibly, humans. In the new study, Read More...
After Cop26 delay, youth activists will hold their own climate talks
Vital negotiations to fulfill the Paris climate agreement were supposed to take place at the UN’S Cop26 in November, but the coronavirus has delayed the climate talks. Activists and participants are not impressed by the lack of progress, especially considering the urgent action needed to limit Read More...
This startup is planting on the seafloor to offset carbon emissions
We recently wrote a story about how kelp forests can protect our coastlines from the pressures of a changing climate. An aquaculture startup, Running Tide, is using those carbon-sucking seaweed powers to sequester carbon off the coast of Maine while raising sustainable shellfish. Planting on Read More...
The case for converting some farmland to bee habitat
Although farmers know that bees are essential pollinators for many crops, they usually don’t dedicate parts of their valuable planting space to create a habitat just for bees. But according to new research, farmers should really consider sharing their land with these pollinating insects. In Read More...
Have a laugh with these hilarious wildlife photos
In these turbulent times, we could all use a good laugh. And that’s exactly what we have to offer today in the form of a hilarious gallery of wildlife photos. The light-hearted images of wildlife come from the finalists of this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography awards. We weren’t aware of Read More...
McDonald’s experiments with circularity with reusable drink cups
Transitioning to a circular economy means making changes across all industries. The food and beverage sector plays a big role in single-use plastics, but fortunately, more companies are getting on board with more eco-friendly, reusable options. The most recent announcement comes from McDonald’s Read More...
This lab is using AI to spot wildfires just minutes after they start
Most fire services rely on human spotters to identify and report new blazes, but Descartes Lab, a Santa Fe-based startup, aims to revolutionize the wildfire reporting process using cloud-based AI to identify fire outbreaks minutes after they happen. The lab uses AI to analyze huge amounts of Read More...
Salomon’s new running shoes are 100% recyclable
The problem with most shoes is that they are produced with a mix of materials and glues, making them nearly impossible to recycle. A new pair of running shoes from the French company Salomon wants to show the shoe industry that, yes, it’s possible to create a shoe where every single part of it Read More...
This city is the first in a southern state to sue big oil over climate change
Charleston, South Carolina made history this week as the first city in a southern state to sue the fossil fuel industry for their part in damages due to the climate crisis. The lawsuit is being filed against 24 oil and pipeline companies including ExxonMobil, BP, and Chevron. It alleges that Read More...