Sustainable Urban Development
With cities expected to host about 70 percent of the world's population, sustainable urban development is key to making communities worldwide more resilient against the growing threat of climate change. Find out about the latest urban practices from across the world aiming to make our cities more sustainable and inclusive in these good-news stories from The Optimist Daily.
How fungi may transform the future of construction
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a quiet lab in the Netherlands, Professor Han Wösten holds up what looks like a spongy brick. It may not seem like much at first glance, but this block, made from the rooting networks of fungi, could be a window into the future of sustainable Read More...
Concrete that powers cities? Scientists turn ancient material into giant batteries
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Concrete is one of civilization's oldest building blocks as well as one of its most ubiquitous. From bridges and buildings to sidewalks and stadiums, it forms the backbone of modern life. Now, researchers are reimagining this ancient material not just as Read More...
How NFL stadiums are tackling climate change, one solar panel and compost bin at a time
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM It’s not every day you see a wall of solar panels towering over a sea of green jerseys, but that’s exactly what greeted fans at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia during a recent Eagles home game. Inside the stadium, visitors took selfies with a Read More...
Spooky but safe: how to decorate for Halloween without harming wildlife
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Halloween brings out the pumpkins, glowing skeletons, and plenty of stretchy fake spider webs. While fun for us, some decorations can create very real dangers for local wildlife. “Birds would definitely be the major concern,” says Jennifer Bloodgood, a Read More...
Why green bus stops are blooming around the world
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Most bus stops serve a simple function: keep commuters dry and out of the sun. But in cities across the globe, a quiet revolution is taking shape overhead. Green bus shelters, compact rooftops planted with succulents, wildflowers, and native grasses, are Read More...
All aboard the clean power express: Colorado startup turns trains into rolling batteries
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For over a century, America’s railroads hauled coal by the ton, fueling the country’s insatiable appetite for fossil energy. Now, a Colorado startup is flipping that script by replacing coal with clean power. Meet SunTrain, the Denver-based company Read More...
How the Chicago River went from dumping ground to eco destination
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For generations, the Chicago River was overlooked, dismissed, and heavily polluted. But today, this waterway is showing signs of life so promising that Chicago is preparing to host its first downtown open-water swim in nearly a century. "Everyone used to Read More...
From wind farm to front door: architects turn turbines into tiny homes
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Step inside Nestle, and you might think you’re in a sleek, minimalist cabin. The sunlight filters through glass doors, white walls glow under a skylight, and four solar panels gleam overhead. Step outside, though, and the secret is revealed: this cozy Read More...
Australia says goodbye to plastic soy sauce fish in world-first ban
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For decades, they’ve bobbed alongside sushi rolls across the globe: those tiny fish-shaped soy sauce bottles that squeeze out just enough seasoning for a mouthful of maki. But their days are numbered. As of September 1st, South Australia is the first place Read More...
Japan’s first osmotic power plant shows how salt and fresh water can fuel renewable energy
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Fukuoka, Japan, has quietly switched on a facility that could point to the future of renewable energy. The country’s first osmotic power plant (and only the second in the world) will generate roughly 880,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. That Read More...