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.
Basel knows how to increase urban green space: make it mandatory
Research shows that urban greenspace not only enhances air quality but also supports biodiversity and the mental health of residents. The city of Basel, Switzerland has successfully interjected greenery into its concrete jungle by making urban greenery (and all of its benefits) a legal requirement Read More...
These solar-powered meeting pods take remote work to a whole new level
As the pandemic has normalized remote work, designers are coming up with innovative solutions that could change the future of work for the better. In a bid to achieve exactly that, furniture studio Duffy London has designed the Minka Solar Pod. The project is essentially an outdoor office pod that Read More...
The “Frozen Zoo” could be endangered species' last hope
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is home to the world’s last two remaining northern white rhinos. The future is bleak for this species, but the alliance’s special Frozen Zoo is hard at work to ensure that the legacy of these species is not lost forever. First and foremost, what is a Read More...
California’s Bay Area is cracking down on refinery pollution
San Francisco is known as the city by the bay, but just across that bay sit two petrochemical refineries that spew harmful particulate matter and contribute to severe lung and heart disease in nearby communities. Fortunately, after years of advocacy by environmental justice groups, the Bay Area Air Read More...
Michelin showers stars on several plant-based restaurants this year
In January of this year, a Michelin star was awarded to a fully vegan restaurant for the first time in fine-dining history. The restaurant, called ONA, is run by Claire Vallee, who opened her doors in 2016. We wrote about Vallee’s impressive rise to the top despite being denied bank loans due to Read More...
New IBM tool quantifies the amount of carbon an individual tree sequesters
Although all trees sequester CO2 as they grow, not all of them do so equally. Depending on their type and their location, trees capture different amounts of carbon. In an effort to measure their exact climate benefits, IBM has developed an AI-based tool that precisely maps trees and shows how Read More...
How to protect and soothe skin from smoke exposure
The West Coast wildfires demonstrate that fires will be an increasingly common aspect of a warming world. This means that we will have to learn how to adapt, even as we attempt to reverse and mitigate the effects of climate change. Although skin health isn't our primary concern when it comes to Read More...
Zelp makes methane-reducing masks for cows
We at The Optimist Daily have written extensively about the numerous ways in which the beef and dairy industry can clean up their act with solutions like seaweed-supplemented feeds and plant-based food alternatives. These days, veganism and vegetarianism are gaining more popularity as we become Read More...
Snakes assist scientists in studying areas affected by nuclear disasters
In 2011, a 15-meter tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling at Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, damaging three nuclear reactors in the process. The accident was rated a seven, which is the highest level on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. Now, a decade later, Read More...
France will ban the culling of unwanted male chicks by 2022
Each year, about 50 million male chicks — not wanted for meat or eggs — are culled in France, usually by shredding or gassing. That number, however, will soon become zero, thanks to a new law passed by the government, which will ban the killing of male chicks from next year. Billions of male Read More...