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 dating app connects vegans and vegetarians
These days, the dating scene can be an overwhelming place to be. With all the potential connections that we quite literally have at our fingertips, we have way more people to vet than we did in the past. Although the number of people embracing plant-based diets is growing, for vegans and Read More...
New temperature-controlling material inspired by squid skin
Squids are intelligent, somewhat mystifying creatures whose brains have a complexity level similar to dogs and the astounding adaptation of camouflage. Their bodies are covered in special pigment-filled cells called chromatophores that expand and contract in light, enabling them to change color and Read More...
Sponge Cities: the future of flood resilience
The world’s cities and population centers are overwhelmingly located near water. This makes good sense since water is essential for living, and throughout history, people have built their settlements where water is accessible and in abundant supply. However, in recent decades the vital good that Read More...
Deep sea snail venom lessens pain as well as morphine
Because Asprella cone snails reside at such great depths, scientists have not thoroughly studied them. Now we know, though, that these creatures have an impressive hunting strategery where they use their venom to stun and disorient fish. Then they feast upon the unfortunate fish, like a gory scene Read More...
The climate victory garden movement is springing up all over America
A lot of people picked up vegetable gardening as a pandemic pastime, but what started as a casual time (and tummy) filler has become a mainstay for many Americans. According to Green America, an organization focused on encouraging people to grow their own food to fight climate change, offset Read More...
Norway's walrus population bounces back thanks to hunting bans
Imagine the marvelous mass of a walrus, lying leisurely in its natural habitat. What does the landscape surrounding your imagined walrus look like? You’re probably picturing this tusked creature on a frigid chunk of ice, and that’s because walruses eventually settled mostly in two main places Read More...
This experimental "super forest" shows how to plant trees the right way
Reforesting our lands is key to safeguarding the future of Earth’s life-giving systems. However, it is of utmost importance to do it strategically in order to reap the most benefits out of planting trees. An experimental forest in England aims to showcase how to restore our forests the right Read More...
Medical students demand better climate change education
Thanks to the continued efforts of the students at Emory Medical School, the school’s administration is making a revolutionary change to include climate change as a formal part of its curriculum. The climate crisis isn’t just affecting the weather. While the more glaring signs of climate Read More...
Eco-friendly algae oil could finally solve palm oil's drawbacks
From food to cosmetics, palm oil can be found in countless products today, making it the world’s most widely used vegetable oil. As you may know, though, palm oil is far from environmentally friendly. Additionally, experts have raised concerns about palm oil’s effects on our health. Soon, Read More...
10 key ingredients for your plant-based pantry
Committing to cutting down on meat, or switching to a plant-based diet altogether, is good for you and is a more sustainable choice for the environment. Let’s face it, though, the texture and taste of meat and meat byproducts are hard to adequately replace with alternatives like tofu or Read More...