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.
Spring’s morning symphony: the mystery and beauty of the dawn chorus
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As winter fades and spring awakens, the world doesn’t just bloom—it sings. Each morning, just before sunrise, birds across the Northern Hemisphere fill the air with a chorus of calls and songs. This seasonal event, known as the dawn chorus, is nature’s Read More...
Science-backed trick to make your pour-over coffee stronger, no extra beans needed
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’ve ever wished your morning pour-over packed more punch without using extra coffee grounds, science has good news for you. Researchers have discovered that how you pour the water—specifically how slowly and from what height—can make a big Read More...
Dublin expands car-free zones to improve bus travel and city life
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Dublin is taking further steps to reduce private car traffic in its city centre, with new restrictions set to take effect this summer as part of the next phase of the Dublin City Transport Plan. Following the success of last August’s initial Read More...
At 100 years old, this Galapagos tortoise just became a mom—and a conservation hero
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM At the Philadelphia Zoo, a century-old resident named Mommy is celebrating a remarkable milestone—and not just because she’s turning 100. For the first time in her long life, this Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise has become a mother, and her four Read More...
Splitting seawater could revolutionize cement into a carbon-negative material
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the race to tackle climate change, cement has long been a stubborn problem. Responsible for about eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, it’s the fourth-largest source of CO2 pollution worldwide. But a team of researchers believes a new, Read More...
The benefits of shellfish: why clams, oysters, and scallops are great for you and the planet
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you love seafood but worry about mercury, overfishing, or the environmental impact of your meal, there’s good news: Shellfish—especially bivalves like oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops—are both a nutritional powerhouse and an environmental Read More...
How to stay safe during extreme rainfall and flooding: expert tips to prepare and protect
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When it comes to extreme weather, preparation is everything. With climate change driving more frequent and intense storms, especially heavy rainfall, knowing how to protect yourself and your home is more important than ever. “Disaster preparation and Read More...
Tiny sparks, massive implications: how water droplets may have ignited life on earth
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Could the origin of life have begun not with a bolt from the blue but with something far smaller? According to a new study from Stanford University, tiny electrical sparks known as "microlightning," created by interactions between water droplets, may have Read More...
California's first wildfire-resilient neighborhood in Escondido
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In response to California's escalating wildfire threat, homebuilder KB Home has launched what it calls the first "wildfire-resilient" housing development in the state. Located in Escondido, just outside San Diego, the new community is designed to meet Read More...
Colombia sets precedent to protect uncontacted Indigenous communities and biodiversity
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a landmark decision, Colombia created its first officially recognized territory dedicated to safeguarding Indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation. Spanning over one million hectares between the Caquetá and Putumayo Rivers in the southern Read More...