The Optimist Today
This company is out to save our oceans by reprogramming microbes to eat CO2
In our complex, interconnected world, solutions to our biggest problems can come from the most unexpected places—such as a company that makes fish food for fish farms. The feed used for fish farms is made up of the ground-up bodies of tiny fish such as anchovies, and it’s the biggest cost of Read More...
Feeling stressed? These 3 practices will help you let go
Too much stress can have terrible consequences on both your mental and physical health, but what we don’t often realize is that many of the things we stress about don’t deserve all that anguish. Instead of letting those things drive you crazy, sometimes it’s better to just let go of the Read More...
Finally, a supermarket chain is letting people use their own reusable containers
Consumers can absolutely be a part of the solution when it comes to reducing waste. Canadian supermarket chain Metro realizes that, which is why they’re allowing customers to bring reusable containers from home to fill with meat, seafood, deli products, and prepared foods. Although it seems Read More...
Parkinson’s patients are using boxing lessons to fight against disease
In the state of Maine, more than 150 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s are fighting against failing health with boxing lessons. Yes, you read that right. Boxing lessons. As a part of a program called Rock Steady Boxing, participants go to the gym twice a week and do everything that you might Read More...
You can help NASA by snapping photos of trees
NASA would like you to take a picture of a tree, please. The space agency’s ICESat-2 satellite estimates the height of trees from space, and NASA has created a new tool for citizen scientists that can help check those measurements from the ground. All it takes is a smartphone, the app, an Read More...
Don’t toss your citrus peels! Instead, use them to make zest
You may not realize it, but the peels of your citrus fruits are treasure chests full of flavor that you can use to add more tang to any dish. That’s because the zest within the peels is comprised of aromatic oils that give the fruit it’s distinct, fresh smell. If you want to give your favorite Read More...
How do we help people avoid homelessness? This experiment may hold the key
Without a stable place to call home, addressing the problems that homeless people often face such as mental illness or drug addiction becomes incredibly challenging. That’s why a nonprofit in Detroit has created a radical experiment that gives the most disadvantaged populations an opportunity to Read More...
Here’s why giant trash monsters are popping up in front of Nestle’s headquarters
There are lots of ways you can voice your disapproval of a company’s wasteful ways. You can write the company letters, lament them on social media, boycott their products—or you can put a 15-foot-tall monster made out of garbage in front of their headquarters. That’s exactly what Greenpeace Read More...
These off-the-grid “Earthships” are the most eco-friendly rentals on Airbnb
Sustainability is a hip buzzword in travel these days, which means, of course, that the term is overused and nobody knows what it really means anymore. Reusing hotel towels and ditching plastic straws are small steps in the right direction, but there’s strong evidence that travelers are eager to Read More...
New Adidas sneaker can be recycled into a new sneaker—without any waste
When Adidas presented a new model of running shoes made out of ocean plastic last year, it felt more like a marketing gimmick rather than an actual attempt at addressing the problem of waste in the fashion industry. This time around, Adidas has introduced a new sneaker that could actually Read More...