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.
The Dominican Republic reforests a fifth of the country in just 10 years
In the heart of the Dominican Republic, the dramatic story of land reclamation unfolds. Carlos Rodríguez, a diligent farmer, thinks about the once barren acres he managed for decades. Today, the hill is ornamented with cedars, Creole pines, and cypresses, demonstrating the effectiveness of Yaque Read More...
Kenyan artists transform discarded flip-flops into vibrant sculptures
On the shores of Kenya, where waves weave tales of the sea, a remarkable story unfolds—a story of resilience and creativity. This is the journey of Ocean Sole, a company that doesn't just clean beaches; it turns beach trash into vibrant, soulful sculptures that bring life and joy to local Read More...
This interesting fern converts dead leaves into roots for survival
In the deep canopy of Panama's Quebrada Chorro forest, an unusual survival strategy has been discovered in a tree fern called Cyathea rojasiana. In a world where adaptation is the key to survival, this fern takes an unconventional approach by transforming its deceased fronds into a lifeline. A Read More...
Do mysterious Baird's Beaked whales share culture?—a dive into marine life ‘traditions'
In the frigid, dark waters near the Commander Islands, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Bering Sea, marine scientists have been attracted by a strange phenomenon. Baird's beaked whales (Berardius bairdii), known for their elusiveness in the deep sea, have been discovered frolicking in shallow Read More...
England's biodiversity revolution—a radical approach to sustainable development
England is introducing a biodiversity credit scheme in a historic move that will transform the construction scene. This week marks the debut of the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) program, a bold endeavor to push new development projects to benefit, not hurt, the natural environment. The Biodiversity Read More...
Plastic-eating power of “Superworms’” inspires super waste management solution
In a pioneering study, scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), investigated the potential of the Zophobas atratus worm, also known as the superworm, to combat the global plastic pollution epidemic. Aside from serving as nutritious bug appetizers, these darkling Read More...
France's composting mandate, ‘compost obligatoire’—a transformative environmental policy
France implemented a bold waste management policy known as the 'compost obligatoire', which went into effect on January 1, 2024. This innovative legislation requires the recycling of organic waste, indicating a big step towards sustainability. Government support and civic duty With financing from Read More...
Exposing the hidden threat: skin absorption of indoor air pollutants
Indoor spaces, where many of us spend the majority of our lives, conceal a hidden threat: contaminants that enter not only through the air but also through our skin. Dive into the realm of semi-volatile organic compounds, investigating their origins and how they affect your health. Let us unlock Read More...
Are mushrooms Mother Nature's built-in solution to plastic pollution?
In a world overrun with plastic waste, the potential hero may arise from the humble realm of fungi. With between two and four million species worldwide, these often overlooked creatures hold possibilities ranging from alternative building materials to cleansing environmental toxins. Scientists Read More...
Scientists finally complete map of gigantic deep sea coral reef off the US Atlantic coast
For the first time in scientific history, experts have cracked the code of the world's largest deep-sea coral reef, a massive 6.4 million-acre ecosystem hundreds of miles off the Atlantic coast of the United States. This incredible discovery, which surpasses the size of Vermont, has now been Read More...