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.
Seaweed could supplement our protein and future biofuel
Sometimes, the answers to important questions were right under our noses the whole time… or, in this case, underwater. A Swedish sea farm is growing seaweed in abundance to show how it can become a major food staple and a potential resource for biofuel and plastics. Sea agriculture At Read More...
New species of millipede named after singer Taylor Swift
There have been several newly discovered animals in the past year named after famous individuals. This includes Opaluma rupaul, a species of a fly named after the drag queen Ru Paul and the rain frog Pristimantis gretathunbergae, named after climate activist Greta Thunberg. Recently, 16 new Read More...
How to catch the Lyrid meteor shower this Earth Day
Earth Day is an international celebration of our beautiful planet and a reminder of what steps we need to take to save it. The date marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement which started in 1970. This Earth Day, the stars have aligned (so to speak) to bring us the Read More...
4 eco-conscious ways to dispose of old clothing
Once you’ve exhausted a garment to the point that it can no longer be mended, it can be tempting to simply throw it into the regular trash. However, doing so will only send them to the landfill where they will generate greenhouse gases and leach harmful dyes and chemicals into the soil as they Read More...
6 ways to support solar energy without buying panels
Renewable resources are essential to achieve our goal of energy independence and resilience in the face of a changing climate. While many of us support the move toward energy sources such as wind and solar, we might not own our homes or be in a position to put up some solar panels ourselves. The Read More...
Study suggests plant-based diets could be a healthy option for dogs
In the quest to lower carbon emissions, people’s interest in plant-based diets is growing, due to the fairly common knowledge that eating meat and animal byproducts, especially beef and dairy, is very resource-intensive. The conversation around feeding our beloved pets plant-based chow is Read More...
How slum residents in India are redesigning their future homes
How do you successfully help residents of a slum move into housing that improves their quality of life while maintaining a strong sense of community? You let them in on the design process and hear them out. At least that is what is happening in an informal settlement in the Indian city of Read More...
Celebrate Earth Day by planting native plants… and then neglecting them
A lot of the time, human intervention is less effective than letting nature take its own course. So, this year, why not honor Mother Nature by giving her free rein over your garden. Instead of wishing for perfectly manicured lawns and pristine landscaping, imagine instead a fairytale-like oasis Read More...
Why birds migrate so far and how you can help them
Spring is in the air. This exquisite time of year signals the birth of new life, warmer weather, greener trees, and the return of migrating birds. In North America, most birds migrate to some extent, with more than 30 species traveling between climates in the U.S. and tropics each year. A bird Read More...
Five steps for making your clothes last as long as possible
The clothes we wear can make us feel confident and help us express our inner selves. Unfortunately, our culture of fast fashion produces these garments cheap and fast, adding to the ongoing climate crisis. To lead a more sustainable life regarding clothes, it's important to consider several things Read More...