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.
These wind-powered offshore chargers could change shipping
Wind energy is a major part of our energy future. As the technology develops it opens up new possibilities in different areas of our economies. The biggest CO2 emitter for offshore wind farms is the diesel boats that drive out for maintenance on the turbines. Scottish firm Oasis Marine Power Read More...
This bacteria "eats" carbon emissions and makes useful chemicals
Scientists at LanzaTech in Illinois have engineered some exciting new bacteria that actually transform carbon dioxide into ethanol and isopropanol, compounds used in paint remover and hand sanitizer. Michael Köpke and his colleagues went on a hunt for strains of the ethanol-producing bacterium, Read More...
This startup uses electrochemistry to capture carbon
A tricky part of carbon capture technology is the energy required to pull it off. Many critics, while agreeing on the need to pull carbon dioxide out of the air, say that existing technologies might produce more emissions than they remove. Now, startups are getting creative to optimize carbon Read More...
This cheeky browser helps you pursue climate action
As the urgency to take action against climate change becomes more apparent in our day-to-day lives, an increasing number of people — especially younger generations — are experiencing feelings of eco-anxiety. These overwhelming feelings are only exacerbated by recurrent news headlines about Read More...
This highway was made from recycled diapers
Recycling plastic to create a new purpose for it is nothing new. Here at The Optimist Daily, we’ve previously shared how innovators have reused this material to create blocks for building, a sleek chair, and LEGO bricks. A diaper highway For the first time, the plastic in diapers is being Read More...
How to prepare your home for a windstorm
Last weekend, Storm Eunice (also known as Storm Zeynep in Germany and Storm Nora in Denmark) devastated much of the UK and Western Europe, ranking as one of the three worst storms recorded since 1970, according to KNMI, a Dutch meteorological office. The storm’s high winds reached record Read More...
3 easy ways to shop for clothes more sustainably
As prices rise and we all feel that pinch in our pocketbooks, consumers are seeking ways to shop for the things they need and want without breaking the bank. On the other hand, we are constantly being shown ads that encourage us to shop always for the latest trends, so it’s no wonder fast Read More...
This non-profit aims to harness the power of weather events on land and sea
When it comes to hurricanes, wildfires, and other environmental hazards, early alerts are key to minimizing risk to people from these high-powered natural phenomena. What if there were a system that both warned individuals of weather events like these and then converted their power into usable Read More...
These buoys will be able to charge ships at sea with offshore wind energy
A lot of the world’s commerce is done at sea by huge cargo ships that burn enormous amounts of fuel idling near ports waiting to load up. This may change in the future with the development of Stillstrom charging buoy, a wind-powered solution. Offshore wind-powered charging Read More...
These yummy-looking gummy bears are made from locusts
According to the United Nations, there are over 1,900 edible insect species worldwide, and eating more of them could help mitigate climate change, as well as fight global food insecurity. Working towards that goal, an Israeli company has been keeping busy making an infamous insect a key ingredient Read More...