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.
Bumblebees help solidify the link between microbiome and memory
The term 'microbiome' has been thrown around a lot over the past few years with many studies and health companies finding that a healthy gut balance can decrease your risk of cancer, clear up your skin, and improve mental health, just to name a few. Memory and the microbiome Recently, a study Read More...
This all-female rainforest team is protecting India’s endangered flora
One of the most alarming effects of climate change is the toll it takes on global biodiversity. While these impacts are only expected to exacerbate over time if we don’t act with urgency, some natural parts of the world are already feeling the sting of global warming. Among these places is Read More...
Rwanda’s mountain gorillas represent a successful conservation story
Following years of poaching and habitat destruction, the population of mountain gorillas in Rwanda once numbered under 260 individuals. Now, Rwandan gorillas represent a rare conservation success and a key economic engine for the East African country, reports CBS. "One of, if not the top source, Read More...
High altitude experiment shows that snow monkeys are excellent at fishing
Snow monkeys, also known as the Japanese macaque, are native to many of the main islands of Japan. These fluffy creatures are the most northern-based non-human primate out there, meaning they have some cold temperatures to put up with. Many live in the Japanese Alps, where in the winter months' Read More...
Here are 5 Indigenous-led eco-charities you can support today
The climate crisis has caused us to reconsider our consumerist lifestyles and turn to Indigenous peoples to learn from their superior understanding of living in harmony with nature. Here is a list of five organizations and eco-charities you should check out if you are looking to make a difference Read More...
Germany plans to put 15 million electric vehicles on its roads by 2030
Making electric cars the dominant vehicles on the road is key to curbing planet-warming emissions and protecting the climate. In a bid to reach that goal, an increasing number of countries and cities across the world have pledged to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by the end of the decade. Now, Read More...
A secondhand gift-giving guide for a more sustainable holiday
Do you want to make the holiday season more sustainable this year by practicing less consumerism, but are unsure of how to navigate giving pre-loved gifts with grace? A survey by online secondhand marketplace Vinted revealed that one in six people are dedicated to giving repurposed presents this Read More...
Scientists strive to map and preserve underground fungal networks
Science is taking the fight against climate change underground—literally. The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks is on a mission to uncover the mysteries of the vast fungal networks found in the soil under our feet. We know that there’s an underground network comprised of Read More...
Jelly ice cubes are a zero waste solution for cold storage
What if we could ship refrigerated goods without the use of ice or traditional ice packs? This is the vision of UC Davis researchers who recently developed a new type of ice cube which does not melt and is compostable and anti-microbial. The new cubes, called “jelly ice cubes” contain mostly Read More...
US establishes protected zone for endangered North Atlantic right whales
The North Atlantic right whale is a species of whale that is currently considered critically endangered. Despite having been included in the Endangered Species Act since 1973, experts estimate that the North Atlantic right whale population has dwindled to fewer than 350. To help protect these Read More...