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.
How a neighborhood dedicated to farming sprung up in inner-city Detroit
Have you ever heard of an agrihood? Unlike urban farms and gardens, agrihoods are entire neighborhoods dedicated to agriculture. Nationwide, there are about 90 of these agrihoods, with most of them being home to affluent millennials looking for close proximity to fresh and “clean” foods. But Read More...
Could fake rhino horns help stop the poaching of endangered rhinos?
Despite stronger anti-poaching teams and bans on the trade of rhino horn, this illegal business still continues to this day. In search of a new way to protect endangered rhinos from poaching, scientists have found a way to make a fake rhino horn that looks and feels just like the real one using Read More...
How to make your home more sustainable this winter
Cooler weather and shorter days invoke a nesting response in all of us. While making your home cozy for winter, take some time to make your home more sustainable too! Here are some easy tips for keeping your home green, even as the leaves turn to brown. Preserve foods: gather the last of your Read More...
A shot for the planet: This is the world’s first carbon-negative vodka
With nothing but air and water, a beverage company by the name of Air Co. has developed a way to produce carbon-negative vodka without grains or yeast. Here’s how it works: using renewable electricity, Air Co. turns carbon from the air into pure ethanol, by electrically splitting water into Read More...
This fabric is made from an abundantly growing cactus in Mexico
There are so many fashion brands on the market making gorgeous vegan leather goods that are totally animal-free — but most of those brands use plastic-derived materials to achieve the look. However, a new brand out of Mexico, called Desserto, is shaking things up by turning nopal cactus leaves Read More...
After being almost completely wiped out, Australia’s shellfish reefs are coming back to life
In the ‘60s, Australia’s shellfish reefs were booming, with locals being able to go and collect buckets of oysters in the shallows of the country’s north-eastern beaches. But within just a few decades, overfishing and pollution have wiped out 99 percent of the shelled mollusks, leaving behind Read More...
This ingenious farming technique of the Aztecs could feed the world’s metropolises
By 2050, the UN thinks there will be nearly 10 billion people on planet Earth, with 68 percent living in urban areas. Both numbers pose serious questions as to how we'll feed the growing, urbanizing population, which is why there's new research exploring whether traditional farming techniques could Read More...
How to talk to your kids about the climate crisis
The climate crisis can be a difficult and scary topic to discuss, even with other adults. When it comes to talking about climate change with your kids, it gets even tougher. Here are some tips on how to discuss climate change with your kids in a productive and honest way. Break the Read More...
Chicago is seeing book returns surge 240% after the mayor eliminated fees
A little over a month ago, we published a story about Chicago libraries doing away with overdue book fees, which are disproportionately affecting the city’s lower-income residents. Now, one month since the fines were eliminated, Chicago libraries are reporting a 240 percent increase in the number Read More...
Greta Thunberg effect: How carbon offsetting has spiked in the past 18 months
She is 16-years-old, and she already has a phenomenon named after her called the “Greta Thunberg effect”. It refers to the huge increase in individuals and businesses choosing to offset their emissions by investing in carbon-reducing projects in developing countries. Ever since Thunberg’s Read More...