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.
Urban farms could breathe life into the typical big-box store parking lot
Typical parking lots at big-box stores, sprawling over several acres, are empty most of the time, unnecessarily occupying space that could otherwise be designated for more useful community projects. One way to breathe life and utility into these bland spaces could be by turning them into urban Read More...
Algae is going mainstream as Kanye West unveils algae-based sneakers
We can already imagine some of our readers facepalming after reading this headline, but the fact of the matter is nothing spreads faster than when an “influencer” bringing it to the mainstream. That’s why it’s awesome that Kanye West unveiled a new shoe prototype from his Yeezy fashion Read More...
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...