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.
A zoo in Berlin just witnessed the rare birth of panda twins
If you’re a panda lover (who isn’t?), then we have some fantastic news for you. This week, a panda by the name of Meng Meng gave birth to not one, but two panda cubs in a zoo in Berlin—marking the first time one of these rare mammals has given birth in Germany. Pandas are notoriously Read More...
Where you live affects health, wealth and earning potential - podcast reports
A couple of weeks ago we shared a story about the cognitive benefits of listening to podcasts. This was thrilling to us since several on the Optimist Daily team are dedicated podheads. One story we listened to this week jumped out as something that we had to share - a Planet Money episode that Read More...
How soil restoration will play a critical role in the future of global food systems
What’s the secret to feeding a global population that will reach 10 billion by 2050? Earth and Space Sciences professor David R. Montgomery says soil restoration is the answer. Unfortunately, one-third of the world’s population already suffers from the effects of degraded soil caused by Read More...
How seaweed forests can be a massive tool against climate collapse
The Optimist Daily has long been a proponent of seaweed as a food source to help feed the world’s growing population, and because of its tremendous health benefits. It also has the potential to serve as a powerful tool to fight against climate collapse. A recent study documents for the first Read More...
Spiny sea friends help treat Hawaii’s smothered coral reefs
For tourists, sea urchins may be an unwanted addition to a Hawaiian vacation, but these spiky little creatures are a welcomed habitat dweller for the islands’ coral reefs. The sea urchins, which are native to Hawaii’s waters, eat invasive smothering algae which threaten the health of the reef Read More...
Why conservationists are giving these rare bats a manicure
Conservation technology has come a long way in recent decades. Scientists can now track birds’ migratory patterns via satellite and try to bring species back from the brink of extinction through advanced fertility technology. But there is still room for more low-tech approaches. Sometimes all you Read More...
How to stop pollution from ruining the air quality inside your car
Did you know our car vents don’t fully protect us from the gaseous emissions in our surroundings? This evidently becomes an issue if you are sitting in traffic during rush-hour, as breathing in these pollutants for an extended period of time can inflict damage on our lungs and heart. If Read More...
Dive into this photo gallery of Earth’s most alien landscapes
To really learn about how life emerges, evolves, and flourishes‚ and to improve our chances of detecting it elsewhere in the solar system, scientists look for life in Earth’s harshest environments. That means going to the extremes—to the hottest, darkest, driest, most acidic, saltiest places Read More...
Bury this shirt once it’s worn out. It will become “worm food” in 12 weeks.
A tech-based clothing startup by the name of Vollebak has developed a T-shirt that can either be put in a compost bin or buried in the ground once it’s reached the end of its life. That’s because the shirt is made entirely from wood pulp and algae, which breaks down in soil or in a composter Read More...
Marriott becomes latest hotel chain to ban tiny toiletries
Just a month ago, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced it will no longer offer tiny toiletries at its hotels, which includes the Holiday Inn—amongst others. The move is expected to eliminate 200 million tiny bottles each year by 2021. Now, just a month later, the world’s largest Read More...