Today’s Solutions: January 11, 2025

Evergreen

Drop dripping out of water tap outside

New desalination system uses Teflon-like membrane to make seawater potable

Clean drinking water is already in short supply in many places around the world, but the situation is only expected to get worse with climate change. Figuring out ways to desalinate brackish water or seawater in an efficient and scalable way is key to mitigating the global water crisis. A Read More...

Ocean waves breaking into cliff

This is the world’s first ocean carbon-removing machine

Cutting greenhouse gas emissions at the source should be the main goal when tackling climate change, but the most recent IPCC report also recommends carbon capture and storage technologies as key parts of the effort to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The startup Heimdal is well aware of the need Read More...

Composting

Five easy steps to start composting

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about eight percent of all carbon emissions come from food waste, and about half of that comes from “the consumption stage,” which means waste from households and food services. This means that we can control about four percent of carbon Read More...

Algae computers

Algae powered a basic computer for over six months

Sometimes it can be pretty difficult to imagine our highly technological society coexisting with the natural world. We seem to live most of our lives entirely online, not just separated from nature, but also from physical space itself. However, scientists from the University of Cambridge have Read More...

a journal amidst an assortment of gardening tools

Start a garden journal to promote the health of your personal ecosystem

Here at The Optimist Daily, we are big fans of brain-boosting hobbies that support your health. For instance, cultivating your own garden has a positive impact on your well-being and is good for the environment. Journaling is also a fantastic way to de-stress, reflect on your life circumstances, Read More...

woman on a jog breathing deeply

3 free longevity hacks for a longer life

There are a lot of habits that we can incorporate into our day-to-day lives that will help us extend our time on this earth. However, there are three that stand out, not just because they’re effective and simple, but they’re also cost-free.  Hydration We talk about hydration a lot here at Read More...

Health data collection concept.

Health data policies need to come into play

As technology's power and influence have grown astonishingly in the past 20 years, no one was prepared for its implications down the line. Data privacy is one of these unforeseen issues, with no real laws and rights currently in place around this topic. We are under the hold of our browsing Read More...

Recycle used coffee grounds, using used coffee grounds as fertilizer.

How old coffee grounds can give your home garden a boost

Whether you make your daily cup of coffee with a French press, a pour-over Chemex, or a classic coffee maker, you probably find yourself with a surplus of coffee grounds pretty often. Throwing these down the sink can lead to some serious plumbing problems and throwing them in the trash will cause Read More...

Electric Vehicle Battery

US announces $3 billion electric vehicle battery production

We at The Optimist Daily are enormous electric vehicle fans, and we’re not the only ones. Demand for electric vehicles has risen so sharply around the world that manufacturers and supply chains are struggling to keep up.  To help things along, state and federal governments are stepping up to Read More...

Arabidopsis thaliana

This “extreme” plant could be the beginning of climate-resistant crops

We tend to think of crops as delicate and temperamental, that they require a lot of care and particular conditions to grow in. While this is certainly true for, say, avocados, which require incredible amounts of water naturally found in tropical rainforests, some crops evolved to live and thrive in Read More...