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UK wind industry smashes records in 2015
2015 was a record-breaking year for the British wind industry, with onshore and offshore farms providing a larger-than-ever share of the UK's electricity, according to new data released today by National Grid. Last year the UK generated 11 per cent of its electricity from wind, up from 9.5 per cent Read More...
Look again. A wood-fired power plant
The picture shows a power plant that looks like any other fossil fuel burning facility. That makes sense because the Drax power station in the United Kingdom used to be a coal-fired plant and one of Britain’s biggest polluters. However, today, the same plant is fired by wood chips and has turned Read More...
The other link between sugar and cancer
A new study, published in Cancer Research, shows high suger intake can increase the risk of breast cancer and hasten the spread of the disease to the lungs. So today and tomorrow, we'll be seeing alarming headlines in reports about this research. Meanwhile, it can also be read in a different way: Read More...
Be the change: The video
Yesterday we asked you to watch and share the video we created that made us all so proud here at The Optimist. Thanks for your lovely responses. ("This certainly gives me hope for the future.") If you haven't seen it yet, here's another Read More...
Counting elephants: The largest wildlife census ever conducted
The Great Elephant Census, funded by Microsoft billionaire Paul G. Allen, began in February 2014 and is beginning to deliver results. Ninety researchers from various organizations have joined aerial teams flying survey transects in 18 elephant range countries. Preliminary results reveal both good Read More...
Want to reduce anxiety, and increase cognitive ability and memory? Try meditation
For many people, the new year is a great time to start meditating. We won't hold you back! Like a muscle that needs regular workouts to get stronger, your brain needs disciplined training to learn to be present and relax. “Every time we come back to the present, we are increasing our mental Read More...
What psychology teaches us about structuring our workday to get the most done
Our workdays often are governed not by priorities or desires but by what’s screaming loudest and closest in our faces. Well-intentioned as you might be about having a productive day, it’s easy for the hours to pass in a flurry of emails, meetings, and demands that eat away at your time Read More...
How to live an empowered life
Tracee Stanley has developed an innovative practice to help people gain clarity, inspiration, and positive momentum in their lives. Tracee's "Empowered Life Activation Kit" includes 72 inquiry cards and 6 guided meditations that lead people on journeys to gain new insights into old problems and Read More...
Using technology to keep carbon emissions in check
The Paris agreement to curb climate change calls for a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels and the greenhouse gasses they emit, especially carbon dioxide. Switching to renewable energy helps but that won't happen fast enough to keep temperatures from rising to dangerous levels. That's why Read More...
Sacré bleu! Restaurants in France now have to give out doggy bags
French restaurateurs have expressed consternation after a new law has made le doggy bag - long considered a dining faux pas in France - a legal requirement. The new law came into force on New Year's Day, and dining establishments serving more than 150 covers a day are now required to provide doggy Read More...