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California takes a major stand against coal
In the port city of Oakland, a developer’s plan to ship coal from city docks has been shut down thanks to a new bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill blocks state funds from being used for any coal-shipping terminals in California, lowering the number of coal exports from California from 4.65 Read More...
Wave power is going to revolutionize renewable energy
There's enough wave energy in the oceans to power the world, and scientists are finally close to harnessing it. For decades wave energy has lagged behind wind energy and solar because harnessing it is more complex. However, the potential is huge: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, waves Read More...
Let your gloomy emotions be beneficial for you
We at The Optimist are strong advocates of a positive outlook on life, but it’s important to recognize the benefits that negative feelings have on ourselves as well. Our so-called negative emotions encourage slower, more systematic cognitive processing. It allows us to rely less on quick Read More...
Colombia Farc: The Norwegian who helped broker peace
A peace agreement for Colombia has finally been signed in Havana, after four years of negotiation presided over by hosts Cuba and Norway. The BBC's Will Grant in the Cuban capital met the Norwegian man who played a central role. The relief in the room was palpable. As the former enemies walked in Read More...
Colombians react to peace deal with FARC
Rebels and officials in Colombia signed a peace deal to end a 52-year conflict Citizens have mixed feelings about the deal The deal must still be approved in a referendum Lea este artículo en español.Bogota, Colombia (CNN en Español)Many Colombians have known nothing but a time Read More...
Overworked America’s obsession with Burning Man is a cry for help
This week, tens of thousands of people are packing their tents and heading to the Nevada desert for Burning Man, a festival focused on “radical self expression.” Those attending build “Black Rock City” from scratch for the event, leaving no trace behind when they pack up Read More...
Why we still need Feminism
Writer and feminist Sophie Cunningham has watched with growing frustration as women are increasingly marginalised: in the arts, in the media and in public life. In this provocative address, she'll argue that disinterest in women -- the overlooking of them, the disavowal of them, the occasional Read More...
Forget self-driving cars. Let’s make self-driving living rooms
The imminent arrival of the self-driving car will change how people move around city streets, but they could do so much more. The Tridika is a conceptual driverless electric vehicle I created to change how we use cars in our ever-growing cities, where space is expensive and limited. Inspired by Read More...
Urban farming is revolutionizing our cities
Humans are fast becoming city dwellers. According to the United Nations, "The urban population of the world has grown rapidly from 746 million in 1950 to 3.9 billion in 2014." Sixty-six percent of us will likely live in urban environments by 2050. The number of mega-cities (more than 10 million Read More...
Renewables now provide 43% of new electricity capacity in U.S.
The grid continues to get cleaner and cleaner. Renewable energy accounts for a large percentage of new electricity generation capacity quarter after quarter in the United States, while old coal power plants close down quarter after quarter. However, due to the massive size of the electricity Read More...