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.
Elephant in Kenya gives birth to rare twin calves
In a celebratory moment for conservation, an elephant has given birth last week to twin calves at a national reserve in northern Kenya. The rare phenomenon came as a pleasant surprise for the tour guides who spotted the twins while out on safari at the Samburu reserve. The pair are only the second Read More...
Using berries and pears to create the world’s first ‘vegan violin’
An Irish master violin luthier has unveiled a set of violins that are made from 100 percent plant-based products. The animal-free violins are the first in the world to be registered with The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark. What makes traditional violins non-vegan? Currently, most violins Read More...
A four day workweek? 10 reasons it’s a great idea
While enduring the global pandemic, many of us have had the chance to reassess our values and goals for our lives. This has set the scene for many companies, workplaces, and even entire countries to toy with the possibility of implementing a four-day workweek. We’ve shared several stories Read More...
Documenting glossy black cockatoos return after bushfires
After enduring a few years of summer bushfires, particularly between 2019 and 2020, the glossy black cockatoo (or “glossies”) population in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales is struggling. To help bolster the threatened bird species’ chances of survival, the state government launched Read More...
Coral reef untouched by climate change discovered off Tahiti’s coast
There’s been a miraculous discovery made in the depths of the South Pacific Ocean—a rare stretch of pristine corals off the coast of Tahiti that appears to be unscathed by climate change or human activities. The coral reef was first discovered by Laetitia Hédouin from France’s National Read More...
Endangered salmon returns to California streams after abundant rains
After one of the driest years in recent memory, the heavy rains that flooded California in late 2021 were welcomed by farmers, urban planners, and a much-awaited guest — the endangered coho salmon. “We’ve seen fish in places that they haven’t been for almost 25 years,” said Preston Read More...
Fish poop feeds world’s largest vertical farm
Almost the size of two entire city blocks, a sprawling new building under construction in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, will soon hold the title of the world’s largest indoor vertical farm. The building, which occupies an area of about 250,000 square feet, is slated for completion in Read More...
South Australia ran on 100 percent renewable energy for almost a week
The last week of 2021 has been an exceptional one for South Australia. The state set an impressive renewable energy record, supplying an average of just over 100 percent of its electricity demand with solar and wind for a period of almost one week. The unprecedented clean energy run was recorded Read More...
Liquid metal turns CO2 emissions into solid carbon at the source
Capturing carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere is a key part of our global strategy to combat climate change. In an effort to find ways that could help us do that efficiently, scientists at RMIT have developed a method that quickly converts carbon dioxide into solid carbon, which can Read More...
This solar panel covered building reflects Taiwan’s green energy transition
Most projects designed by the Dutch architecture firm MVRDV tend to leave a lasting impression on whoever lays their eyes on them. The company's upcoming project, Sun Rock, is no exception. Designed for Taiwan’s government-owned power company Taipower, the project takes the form of a building Read More...