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.
Thanks to a DNA tool, researchers can now determine the age of lobsters
Lobsters are famous for living long lives, but when it comes to determining the age of an individual organism, it’s actually surprisingly difficult. As they molt and develop new exoskeletons throughout their lives, they shed many of the telltale signs of aging, making it difficult for fishermen Read More...
Historic Indigenous water rights agreement finalized in Montana
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) are celebrating the long-awaited final approval of a $1.9 billion water rights settlement. Signed this week by US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the water compact resolves tribal claims to waterways throughout Western Montana and authorizes Read More...
Renewables provide more than just energy to Native American communities
Lack of resources and unclear regulatory oversight has slowed electrification on Native American Reservations, but some organizations believe the transition for renewable energy offers an opportunity to bring reliable, green, independent energy resources to reservations. Among these groups are Read More...
Got leaves? 3 Eco-friendly ways to put them to good use
Beautiful changing leaves are one of autumn’s greatest gifts, but raking those leaves up once they hit the ground is not as fun. However, these raked leaves hold underappreciated benefits. Rather than sending them to the green waste can this year, put them to good use with these three strategies Read More...
Blue food can help meet increasing global food demand sustainably
As global food demand is expected to grow by almost 60 percent by 2050, there’s an urgent need to feed the future world population in a way that doesn’t put too much pressure on the planet. According to five new studies, blue food could play a key role in feeding the world sustainably. Blue Read More...
4 Essential fall projects for a healthy garden
We recently shared a story on how to prep your garden soil for winter, but soil health isn’t the only concern for home gardeners as we head into cooler weather. A few simple autumn projects will help build strong foundations for your garden so it’s ready for another productive year come Read More...
The Optimist View: Finding a fresh food solution with the help of the world’s saltiest plants
“Daily, our eating turns nature into culture, transforming the body of the world into our bodies and minds.” - Michael Pollan BY Amelia Buckley What do you picture when you hear the word halophyte? No, it’s not an obscure insect or the name of Elon Musk’s new futuristic car. Halophyte Read More...
This technique measures drinking water quality using a smartphone camera
While the provision of safe drinking water in impoverished countries is of vital importance, people often lack the facilities necessary to test the water for pollutants. To help solve that problem, a team of scientists has developed a system that uses a smartphone camera to check up on tiny aquatic Read More...
10 Tips to prevent food waste in your garden
Growing your own food is hard work—don’t let all that work go to waste. Here are 10 strategies to help you avoid food waste in your garden. Choose plants appropriate to place If you’re planning to harvest food in your garden, then it is of utmost importance to choose the right plants for Read More...
The sushi of the future will have fish-free versions of tuna made of fungi
Although the fishing industry usually has a lower environmental impact than meat farming, overfishing is an issue, so innovators are racing to come up with more sustainable alternatives without compromising too much on flavor. Among such innovators is Aqua Cultured Foods. The startup grows Read More...