Today’s Solutions: July 17, 2026

299 results for "reduce food waste"

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Podcast Transcript July 2nd, 2026— Coffee waste as fuel, Nepal same-sex marriage rights, and understanding heat domes

Episode Description: Stanford researchers took cartilage from patients already getting knee replacements (about as degraded as joint tissue gets) and discovered how it could regenerate itself. The cells weren’t replaced or reprogrammed; they just shifted back toward a younger pattern of Read More...

Close-up of green, pebbly-skinned avocados piled together in a heap.

Solar fridges lift African farmers’ incomes by 50 percent

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Up to 40 percent of food produced in Africa is lost between harvest and market. Not from drought or pest damage, but from the absence of one thing: refrigeration. The early numbers from solar-powered cold storage are hard to argue with. Provider Soko Fresh Read More...

Antarctic whale populations ar

Antarctic whale populations are rebounding, but there's still more to do

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Good news: the Southern Ocean is filling with whales again. Humpback populations in Antarctica have nearly returned to pre-whaling levels, a rebound scientists say has been faster than almost anyone expected. Researchers conducting a survey near the South Read More...

Investing in planetary health

Investing in planetary health could unlock $20 trillion a year by 2070, says UN report

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A sweeping new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) lays out an ambitious, but achievable, economic transformation: investing in the health of the planet could generate at least $20 trillion in annual benefits by 2070. Released during Read More...

How to keep bananas fresh long

How to keep bananas fresh longer with 3 easy tricks

THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Our Best of 2025 Lifestyle edition is all about the big impact of small shifts. These stories capture what it looks like to live more intentionally, from the habits we build to the way we connect with others and the world. Think of it as a guide to joyful, Read More...

California leads the charge: w

California leads the charge: why banning polystyrene foam is a game-changer

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Politics may often feel gridlocked, but this year we witnessed powerful examples of what’s possible when courage meets action. In our Best of 2025 Politics roundup, we’re featuring policies and leaders that pushed for equity, justice, and real-world Read More...

New York City begins enforcing

New York City begins enforcing mandatory composting to cut waste and emissions

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Politics may often feel gridlocked, but this year we witnessed powerful examples of what’s possible when courage meets action. In our Best of 2025 Politics roundup, we’re featuring policies and leaders that pushed for equity, justice, and real-world Read More...

How black soldier fly larvae a

How black soldier fly larvae are revolutionizing agriculture

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a year marked by rapid change, scientific progress gave us reasons to wonder, dream, and keep pushing forward. For our Best of 2025 Science roundup, we’re celebrating the breakthroughs that didn’t just advance human knowledge; they sparked possibility, Read More...

More US states and cities are

More US states and cities are boosting minimum wages in 2026. What does it mean for workers?

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As the federal minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009, cities and states across the United States are taking matters into their own hands. In 2026, 88 jurisdictions will raise their minimum wage rates, offering millions of workers Read More...

From compost to crops: banana

From compost to crops: banana peels show surprising power as eco-friendly fertilizer

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In kitchens around the world, banana peels are tossed away without a second thought. But what if those scraps could do more than rot in a landfill? According to new research, banana peels may be an overlooked powerhouse when it comes to growing healthier, Read More...