Today’s Solutions: November 26, 2024

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.

The design of the underwater autonomous drone Seasam.

Seasam drone improves underwater research and documentation

Humans have invented various autonomous underwater drones for scientific purposes and more. Some examples include the AutonomousRiver Cleaner (ARC) that uses bubbles and AI to clear plastic from rivers, or MERMAIDs which deep-sea dive to explore the ocean floor. There’s now a new drone in town Read More...

Wastewater energy

Oregon wastewater facility makes its own power with human waste

Two weeks ago, we wrote a piece on upcycling your “business,” going into the green uses some companies found for human waste. Innovation and recycling mean looking everywhere possible for solutions, and The Optimist Daily loves writing about the ones that are found… even if they come out of Read More...

Golden eagle on a branch.

Golden eagle population soars from Scottish conservation efforts

The Optimist Daily loves reporting about the successful global efforts to restore biodiversity and protect endangered species. Whether that be the creation of a Nepalese bird sanctuary or how the Australian humpback whale has come back from endangered status, every comeback is a reason to Read More...

Mushrooms

Always growing: a dive back into the marvelous world of mushrooms

“Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom.” - Thomas Carlyle, Scottish philosopher, and essayist Science is ever-changing. Scientists and physicians used to be sure that contagions and diseases were spread from person to person by smell. This was called the Miasma Theory, and Read More...

Gray fox in tree

More trees may save gray foxes from coyotes

The Optimist Daily has recently written a great deal on the need to coexist with animals, respecting animal agency and the potential to reach a new symbiosis with our furry neighbors on the planet. This brings into our consideration how to adapt our own human environments to better suit the habits Read More...

Foraging basket

Nature’s shopping list: a beginner’s guide to foraging

Two years ago, The Optimist Daily published a small piece on the advantages of foraging. This means walking past the grocery store to the park or a riparian area to search for, identify, and collect your own food resources. The practice has become more popular in recent years, especially during the Read More...

Portrait of a girl wearing face protective mask at Youth strike for climate in protest of climate change policy.

5 simple steps to become a climate activist in everyday life

We recently posted an article discussing impactful changes we can make in our personal lives to help avoid a climate crisis. If you still have a fire within you to enact planet saving change in your community, then maybe consider becoming a climate activist. Being a climate activist doesn’t Read More...

Young Honduran woman wearing green holds Honduran flag and gives thumbs up

UK supports youth-driven climate organization, Sustenta Honduras

Local and youth-driven non-profit organization Sustenta Honduras has a clear goal: to empower Honduran youth to promote sustainable development and public participation to meet the country’s, and the world’s, needs in facing the climate crisis. While it is true that the entire world and Read More...

James Dyson Award

The James Dyson Award: a call to young inventors

The Optimist Daily has written about many winners of the James Dyson Award. This is an international design award that celebrates, encourages, and inspires the next generation of design engineers. It is open to current and recent design engineering students and is run by the James Dyson Foundation, Read More...

Lego Rebellion re-creating protest against Shell's Cambo oilfield plans

These Lego Rebels are taking a stance against the climate crisis

We’ve previously written about Lego’s efforts to lead the toy-making industry towards sustainability. But the toy company is not only making play-time for kids — and adults — more eco-friendly with plant-based building blocks. It turns out its toy bricks are also helping raise awareness Read More...