The Optimist Today
Washington becomes first state to make human composting legal
Isn’t it weird that humanity has advanced so far when it comes to technology, and yet, we have only two options for disposing of human bodies after death? There’s a traditional burial, which requires wood and steel and means leaking dangerous chemicals into the ground, and cremation, which both Read More...
Turn your leftover eggshells into an all-natural fertilizer for your plants
You may not realize it, but the leftover eggshells from your sunny side up can help your garden grow greener and stronger. You see, eggshells are full of calcium, which is an essential plant nutrient, as well as other minerals. By fusing hot water and eggshells, you can make an eggshell tea (yum!) Read More...
The London Marathon replaced plastic bottles with edible seaweed pouches
If you’ve ever been to a huge sporting event such as a marathon, you’re probably aware of the massive amount of plastic waste that gets left behind. The London marathon is usually no different, but this year, the organizers arranged for participants to be handed edible pods made of seaweed Read More...
Why the Green New Deal can help to fix economic inequality in America
The much-hyped Green New Deal, which laid out the broad strokes of a U.S. transition to green energy by 2030, failed in Congress. But its champions haven’t given up. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other like-minded legislators are working on a series of smaller bills Read More...
Every city and town should have a tool library
The tool library: it’s a brilliant concept that embodies the true meaning of the shared economy. At its core, a tool library is a place where civilians can rent or borrow community-owned tools such as hammers and drills instead of having to buy separate tools themselves. Having a tool library in Read More...
This Swiss entrepreneur just donated $1 billion towards conservation efforts
Billionaires around the world sit atop mass amounts of money that could go a long way towards solving the world’s climate issues. Take Jeff Bezos, for example. If the head of Amazon donated just one percent of his total wealth towards climate solutions, which would amount to around $1.5 billion, Read More...
Researchers have found a way to restore voices lost to neurological conditions
People with neurological conditions who lose the ability to speak can still send the brain signals used for speech, but sadly, they cannot produce any words with their voices. UCSF researchers, however, might have found a way to bring their voices back. What they’ve created is a brain-machine Read More...
Work smarter, not harder: 4 ways to boost productivity without losing free time
We all have the same hours in the day, yet how we prioritize our time and energy will dictate our ability to execute tasks efficiently. Working smarter is the ability to be productive and efficient when working toward your goals, rather than looking and feeling busy and out of time. The following Read More...
Shipwrecks in the Atlantic are providing critical habitats for sand tiger sharks
Off the shores of North Carolina is a coastal region known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” In this area, hundreds of shipwrecks are lying in tatters on the ocean floor. Lately, scientists have started to notice that female tiger sharks have developed an affinity to these shipwrecks off the Read More...
Ma Jun is not your everyday environmental activist
There all kinds of ways to do environmental activism. One way, as we pointed out in yesterday’s Optimist Daily, is to take to the streets and be civilly disobedient in the name of climate action. Another more subtle way is to be like Chinese environmentalist Ma Jun. At the age of 50, Ma has Read More...