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.
Study: Schools of fish operate like a superorganism
The world under the waves is still a mystery, with 95 percent of oceans yet to be explored. Scientists are always uncovering many new and exciting aspects of this ecosystem; from the importance of fish poop, to new species of whale, and even how fish use sharks like a day spa! Teams from the Read More...
Study brings us one step closer to sustainable pharmaceuticals
On average, the pharmaceutical industry creates 100kg of waste for every 1kg of small-molecule drug synthesized, which creates a lot of toxic waste. Furthermore, nitrogen-containing chemicals called primary amines, which are used in the majority of all pharmaceuticals, are sought after in the Read More...
New biodegradable glitter lets you sparkle guilt-free
As sparkly and magical as it is, glitter is actually a form of microplastic, and even products that claim to contain biodegradable glitter rarely actually are. This is a difficult issue to tackle because countries would need to reach an international consensus about regulating it, but fortunately, Read More...
Octopuses, crabs, and lobsters are now considered sentient beings in the UK
In a landmark achievement for animal welfare, octopuses, crabs, and lobsters will be considered sentient beings under UK law. The move follows an independent review led by scientists at the London School of Economics (LSE), which concluded that there is strong evidence these animals can feel pain, Read More...
Farmers partner with NatureLife to protect endangered cranes in Cambodia
Cranes in Cambodia are increasingly threatened by climate change, habitat destruction, and saltwater intrusion, but one group of dedicated citizens is working to ensure their survival: local farmers. Farmers from Koh Chamkar village in southwest Cambodia are working with NatureLife Cambodia to Read More...
The EU proposes law that bans major products linked to deforestation
Last week, the European Commission proposed new legislation to ban the import of many key commodities if companies cannot definitively prove that their products aren’t linked to deforestation. Otherwise, these companies can expect to receive a hefty fine. The commodities under investigation Read More...
US allocates $6.6 million to Midwest Tribes for EV network
The US Department of Energy has approved $6.6 million in funding to create an electric vehicle charging network for Native American Tribes in the Midwest. Awarded to Native Sun Community Power Development and Standing Rock Renewable Energy Power Authority, the funding will be used to purchase Read More...
Could you build a net-zero city? This game lets you find out
More and more cities and countries are pledging to achieve net-zero emissions, but this task isn’t as easy as it seems. Some strategies, like installing renewable energy sources and electrifying public transport, are intuitive, but what about private households and emissions from landfills? To Read More...
How these 3 apps are tackling food waste in Canada
Anyone who works in the restaurant, catering, or supermarket industry will know that food waste is a gigantic problem. Too often, day-old baked goods and food items that have sat on the shelves beyond their expiry date are disposed of and end up in the trash. According to this 2019 report by the Read More...
How Beethoven-loving donkeys help keep this ancient city clean
Every day at dawn, a herd of hard-working donkeys emerges from their stables into the cobbled streets of the ancient Turkish city of Mardin to collect rubbish. Working alongside city workers, the cream-colored animals help carry bags of litter as they meander through the narrow alleyways of the Read More...