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.
This company takes drone-assisted reforestation to the next level
We’ve written about the use of drones for medical access, ecosystem restoration, and pollution-spotting, but Seattle-based DroneSeed has their own specific drone mission: reforesting after wildfires. The concept of using drones for reforestation isn’t new, but DroneSeed has perfected the Read More...
Hummingbird-like moth has the longest tongue of any insect in the world
When Charles Darwin came across the long-necked Angraecum sesquipedale orchid species (also known as Darwin’s orchid) on the island of Madagascar, he had a curious thought: There must be an insect on the island with a tongue long enough to feed itself on the plant. “Good heavens,” he Read More...
Eco-friendly ways to deal with your dog’s waste
If you’re a dog parent, then you know by now that your dog is capable of generating a surprising quantity of waste. Here are some environmentally friendly ways to manage the waste they generate. Let’s start with #1 Dogs pee a lot. It’s how they tag their territories and let other dogs know Read More...
This gigantic vertical greenhouse uses 100% natural light
Vertical farming is an amazing solution that allows us to grow fresh produce using a fraction of the water and land that traditional agriculture requires. That said, most vertical farms need a lot of heating and artificial light. The use of 100 percent natural light is what sets Shockingly Read More...
Following shut offs and hurricanes, Puerto Ricans want a solar future
Puerto Ricans pay nearly twice as much for electricity as mainland Americans, yet random shut-offs and natural disasters like Hurricane Maria often leave many without power. In the wake of the hurricane, a social movement called Queremos Sol was born. Meaning “we want sun,” the movement Read More...
Residents of this small Spanish town pay less taxes the more they recycle
The small Spanish town of La Nucía is located just 10 kilometers away from the touristy seaside resorts of Benidorm. But compared to its skyscraper-dominant neighbor, La Nucía’s architecture ranks high in sustainability rather than height. For over 20 years, the municipality has followed a Read More...
France bids “adieu” to plastic packaging for fresh produce
Plastic pollution is strangling our planet. To combat the use of unnecessary plastics, France has announced that it will be banning plastic packaging for fruits and vegetables. Currently, an estimated 37 percent of fruit and vegetables are sold with plastic packaging in France, so the ban will Read More...
Help scientists locate walruses by becoming a walrus detective
The Arctic is under increasing threat due to climate change, and so is the biodiversity that it supports. That’s why the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and the British Antarctic Survey have decided to collaborate with space tech company Maxar Technologies to initiate the “Walrus from Space” Read More...
These are the inaugural winners of the Earthshot Prize
We have previously wrote about Earthshot Prize nominee Vinisha Umashankar, a clever 14-year-old student from Tamil Nadu who created a mobile ironing cart that runs off solar power. Although Umashankar didn’t win an Earthshot Prize, the five other recipients were recently announced. Here are the Read More...
EU is giving away 60,000 free Interrail tickets to European youth
The European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas realizes that the coronavirus pandemic forced young people to “[miss] valuable and formative moments of their youth.” As a recognition of their sacrifice in the name of public health and safety, and to “rekindle mobility in Europe,” Read More...