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 Flair: this redesigned fan uses up to 85% less energy than conventional fans
AC systems and fans use up to 22 percent of the world’s electricity. This generates as many CO2 emissions as all the world’s cars. Strangely enough, however, the design of the fan hasn’t changed in 100 years. That’s why Jay Harman’s design firm, PAX Scientific, has designed a new, Read More...
Girl Scouts are building ‘hotels’ for the wild bees in their communities
The future of food may involve state-of-the-art technologies and innovative farming practices but, essentially, the health and security of our food system still rely heavily on nature’s beloved wild pollinators. That’s why ensuring that these tiny insects stay hidden from the wrath of the Read More...
How to go plastic-free this Halloween
The festive Halloween season is upon us, but there is nothing spookier than the masses of plastic thrown away during the holiday from costumes, candy, and decorations. So how can you celebrate plastic-free? This week we have tips and tricks to make your Halloween more eco-friendly, but just as Read More...
The cleanest kicks around: these classy sneakers are totally carbon neutral
Lots of shoe brands have been coming out with new lines of sneakers made of sustainable sources, but the problem is that many of these brands are huge corporations whose practices are unsustainable overall and who have put out eco-friendly shoes in an attempt to win over the public. Another problem Read More...
Behold the drama and intensity of nature with award-winning photo gallery
At the Optimist Daily, we love diving into photo galleries of nature and wildlife. They’re a wonderful reminder of the precious beauty we’re trying to preserve and regenerate in our world and of the drama that plays out in nature outside our day-to-day lives. During this year’s wildlife Read More...
Wisconsin launches climate change taskforce to curb state’s environmental footprint
While the urgency to tackle climate change is heavily ignored by the current federal government, some state officials in the US are not hesitant to step up their efforts in preventing a looming environmental catastrophe. The latest of such commitments come from the Democratic governor of Read More...
NEGATIVE: Direct Air Carbon capture bracelet - a climate solution in your hand
We recently featured a cool Kickstarter campaign that was raising funds to streamline production on “SEADPODS” - recycled plastic planters that can be hung on chainlink fences to greenify urban spaces. We love these kinds of innovative ideas, blending commerce and social or environmental Read More...
Say yes to ants: how these little creatures keep your plants disease-free
Ants may be pesky nuisances in the kitchen, but a new study indicates that the insects may be your allies in keeping your outdoor plants healthy and free of diseases. The new research, conducted by Danish scientists, revealed that ants produce antibiotics that prevent the growth of at least 14 Read More...
Scientists are deploying satellites to monitor whale strandings from space
Back in 2015, Chile saw one of the largest mass mortality of baleen whales in recorded history, tallying at least 343 whales. But the remote location of the stranding meant that it went unreported for weeks, after which whales went missing and decomposition made it hard to determine how the whales Read More...
Teach your kids about the plight of endangered animals with this beautiful book
As depressing as it sounds, there’s definitely a need to teach children about the current state of our ecosystems and the endangered animals that live within them. That’s why New York Times bestselling author, Millie Marotta, has created a beautiful children’s book called A Wild Child’s Read More...