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.
Australia returns one of world's oldest rainforests to Indigenous people
This past Wednesday in a formal ceremony, the state government of Queensland, Australia, agreed to return four national parks to the Indigenous Eastern Kuku Yalanji people. The official decision follows four years of negotiations. One of these four parks is Australia’s Daintree Rainforest, one Read More...
This new ultra-strong glass is inspired by mollusk shells
If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of a broken phone screen, you’ve probably wished there was a more durable material available for electronics. Thanks to researchers from McGill University, that may soon be a reality. The team has developed a new type of glass, inspired by the inner Read More...
Drone footage shows growth in California kelp forests
Kelp is a key pillar of marine ecosystems and a huge carbon sink, but along the California coast, populations have been dwindling in recent years. Overpopulation of sea urchins, which feast on kelp, as well as rising sea temperatures, have devastated these marine forests, but new drone images from Read More...
Australia sends sunshine to Singapore in gigantic renewable energy project
We’d venture to say that all countries hope to take on renewable energy, especially since all evidence suggests that if we don’t curb our fossil fuel use, the world will go careening into climate catastrophe. However, not all countries have access to the resources needed to make the Read More...
Fat Bear Week 2021: Meet the contenders
It’s that time of year again. Fat bear week is upon us and this year’s candidates do not disappoint. The National Parks Service has put together their collection of the chunkiest bears from Brooks River, Alaska. Katmai National Park and Preserve has partnered with explore.org to allow us to Read More...
Phil Henderson will lead the first all-Black American team to the summit of Everest
Expensive gear, remote locations, and limited transportation options make outdoor exploration inaccessible to many communities. Phil Henderson recognizes that the world of outdoor adventure is lacking diverse representation and plans to push change in the industry by leading the first-ever Read More...
Researchers identity three pregnant endangered southern resident orcas
Only 73 southern resident killer whales remain in the wild, and the species reproduces very slowly, making conservation efforts painstakingly slow. Fortunately, a pair of marine biologists with keen eyes spotted an encouraging sight in the waters off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. The Read More...
Ice stupas: How an artificial glacier is addressing India’s water crisis
Ice stupas were invented in 2013 by Indian engineer Sonam Wangchuk. They are essentially artificial glaciers that take wastewater flowing in the summer months and pump it uphill to be stored as ice during the winter and released once again when spring arrives. For water-scarce regions, they provide Read More...
A new discovery about algae reproduction could help save coral reefs
The type of algae known as dinoflagellates are valuable for improving the health of corals in warming waters, and now, researchers from Rice University have discovered that they reproduce via sex, meaning that algae sex could be critical for the survival of coral reefs. The algae reproduce by Read More...
These biodegradable capsules could help solve the problem of microplastics
From the highest peaks to the ocean’s deepest points, microplastics are virtually everywhere. These pernicious plastics usually originate from unexpected sources such as laundry detergents, which are typically made with plastic microcapsules in order to retain fragrance for longer. Making those Read More...