This is how old batteries could help plants grow
Properly recycling our used batteries is key to preventing toxic waste from polluting the environment. With that said, recycling rates in Australia are quite discouraging, with about 97 percent of alkaline batteries ending up in landfills. A company called Envirostream wants to change that by Read More...
Want healthier houseplants? Try naming them
Have a hard time keeping houseplants alive? The key to a greener thumb might just be giving your plant a name. It sounds silly, but naming your plants helps you better remember to take care of them. It allows you to anthropomorphize the plant and empathize when it needs water, sun, or a bigger Read More...
Create a refuge for endangered native plant species in your own garden
Here at the Optimist Daily, we never tire of sharing stories that help garden-lovers and green thumbs continue cultivating their gardening habits. Gardening, or even just spending time in a garden, doesn’t just offer people several physical and mental health benefits, but gardens can potentially Read More...
Saving America’s citrus fruits
Citrus Greening Disease Citrus Greening Disease, or Huanglongbing (HLB), is a life threatening plant disease that has already destroyed many of Florida's crops and is on its way to ruining California’s also. Asain citrus psyllids are the tiny culprits causing the disease by transmitting deadly Read More...
A chemical found in grape seed could promote more gentle aging
We all know the everyday signs of aging, but researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what is happening on a molecular level. Scientists hope that when the process is understood, it can be slowed down to improve the quality of life for older humans. A new paper, published in Nature Read More...
Give the gift of the perfect festive houseplant this holiday season
This holiday, consider making the lives of your loved ones a little greener with a festive houseplant! Plus, with a little TLC, a houseplant is a gift that keeps on giving all year round. Here are eight beautiful houseplants to give as gifts this holiday season and tips on how to take care of Read More...
Online mushroom hotline puts the power of crowdsourcing in poison control
Ninety nine percent of mushrooms are non-toxic, but the one percent which are can have fatal consequences if accidentally ingested. For people with pets or young children, a seemingly harmless patch of fungi in the front yard could be disastrous. Fortunately, a growing Facebook group is here to Read More...
How to develop a green thumb in no time
When someone brings up the term “green thumb,” chances are certain people we know come to mind, but do we actually know what the term means? Here’s what plant experts want you to understand about what it means to have a green thumb. What it means to have a green thumb According to Read More...
Study: Scientists store energy in biohybrid plants with electronic roots
Scientists at Sweden’s Linköping University have recently demonstrated how plant roots can be used as viable energy storage devices. The team’s experiment involved watering bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) with a special solution that made the roots electrically conductive, demonstrating the Read More...
This easy diet shift will help improve gut health
We can probably all relate to the feeling of our unhappy gut letting us know very clearly that it does not approve of what we’ve been eating that day. Caring for your digestive tract isn’t just something you can check off your to-do list. It’s an ongoing process that we can continue to Read More...