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The world’s biggest fur auction house is closing its doors
Real animal fur is becoming increasingly out-of-style within the fashion industry. More and more people are straying away from the inhumane trade, and some cities, countries, and companies have placed bans on fur in recent years. In another blow to the fur industry, the world’s largest fur Read More...
A new tool for bear conservation in Canada: facial recognition
When it comes to conservation, tracking specific animals usually involves collars or tags, but when software developers Ed Miller and Mary Nguyen saw the fast growth of AI for human facial recognition, they thought, “why can’t this be used for conservation efforts too?” This idea, combined Read More...
This recycling breakthrough brings EV batteries closer to circularity
In a recent Optimist View, we discussed how battery recycling must become an integral part of the electric vehicle transition. Most lithium batteries rely on heavy metal extraction which takes its own toll on the environment. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are cheaper to produce and have a longer Read More...
Clean energy revolution: Philippines to stop building new coal power plants
Currently, coal is the dominant source of energy in the Philippines, with more than 41 percent of the country’s economy relying on dirty fossil fuel. That may soon change though, as the Filipino government recently announced that it will no longer accept proposals to build new coal power plants, Read More...
Argentinian patients can now access and grow medical marijuana
In 2017, a law was passed in Argentina that legalized medical marijuana. The law, however, was flawed as many obstacles blocked patients from gaining access to medical marijuana, forcing many to turn to the black market instead. The good news for supporters of medical marijuana is that Read More...
Kim Ng appointed as Major League Baseball’s first female general manager
The Miami Marlins made history last week as the first team in Major League Baseball (MLB) to hire a female general manager. Kim Ng will become the highest-ranked woman in MLB operations after 30 years of experience in professional baseball. Ng worked for the Chicago White Sox, the New York Read More...
Incredibly remote island creates world’s fourth largest marine sanctuary
In the South Atlantic Ocean lies one of the most remote islands in the world, Tristan da Cunha. The incredibly isolated British territory is partially famous because the recorded population of 245 people is thought to have all descended from just fifteen outside ancestors who arrived on the island Read More...
Barcelona will give 21 downtown streets back to pedestrians and cyclists
If you’re curious to see what urban planning that focuses on people rather than cars looks like, Barcelona is the right city to look at. A year ago, the Spanish city introduced its “Superblocks” project, which transforms nine-block grids of the city into areas that prioritize pedestrians and Read More...
Katharine, the massive great white shark, reappears after 18-month hiatus
Recently, we brought you good news from the West Coast as marine biologists reported a record number of white sharks swimming in southern California’s waters. This time around, we’re bringing you good news from the East Coast after a beloved great white shark by the name of Katharine resurfaced Read More...
This compostable container will biodegrade in your backyard in just 60 days
During the pandemic, supporting your local restaurants often means ordering takeout, but what about all the plastic waste that comes with disposable containers? Fortunately, soon you may not have to choose between supporting restaurants and supporting the planet with a new fully biodegradable Read More...