Water
Scientists use a 3D printer to create a living material made from algae
Being some of the most productive organisms on Earth, it’s no wonder that algae are the subject of intense study in the scientific community. We have previously written many stories about these miracle organisms and their incredible qualities, such as sequestering greenhouse gases and Read More...
Mangroves roots inspire scientists to develop efficient water purifier
While solar stills have been around for some time already, there’s plenty of room for efficiency improvements. In a bid to do exactly that, scientists from Virginia Tech have developed a mangrove-inspired “synthetic tree” that mimics the natural process of transporting water from the roots to Read More...
Beyond seawalls: How oysters can more sustainably protect our coastlines
We’ve written at length about using natural materials to restore degraded coastlines. The strong natural composition of oysters makes them a popular choice for these projects and in Southern California, one scientist is combining native oysters with the power of seagrass to promote coastline Read More...
Mr. Trash Wheel is keeping Baltimore’s Harbor free of trash
Trash interceptors have become an increasingly popular tool in our efforts to help prevent plastic waste from escaping into the ocean. More than a year ago, we shared a story about some of the most popular projects around the world using interceptors to capture plastics in rivers. Among them was Read More...
This water-filtering pool in NYC will clean the waters of the East River
For many New Yorkers, the idea of swimming in the East River is far from enticing — the body of water has been deemed “unswimmable” since the 1930s due to its high levels of pollution. However, that may soon change thanks to an exciting new project called + POOL, which will clean the river Read More...
No more lawns: Las Vegas takes big step to address drought
In a city known for its lavish landscape, one wasteful decorative feature is getting the boot as Las Vegas announces a ban on ornamental grass. The ban comes as the state of Nevada faces a historic and devastating drought exacerbated by climate change. Many other cities have implemented Read More...
Ships that release alkalinizing agents might just save the Great Barrier Reef
We at The Optimist Daily are always interested in new and innovative ideas to help save our oceans. The ever-increasing quantity of carbon dioxide emissions present in the atmosphere is making our oceans warmer and more acidic which in turn degrades coral reefs and threatens marine Read More...
Study: Electricity-eating bacteria could help fight climate change
From spreading crushed rocks in forests and farmlands to constructing green buildings with materials that suck carbon up out of the atmosphere, scientists are hard at work developing innovative solutions that reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. More recently, a team of scientists from Washington Read More...
These beautiful underwater sculptures serve to support marine life
Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has recently erected an underwater ecomuseum near Saint-Marguerite Island, off the coast of Cannes in France. The exhibit displays six mask-like sculptures made of PH neutral materials and features textured surfaces to encourage marine life to return to the area. Read More...
Update: Holland's fish doorbell is a worldwide hit!
A couple of months ago, we wrote about a remarkable online “fish doorbell” or visdeurbel that allows spawning fish to swim through the canals of Utrecht in the Netherlands unobstructed by the Weerdsluis lock. The system is comprised of an internet-connected underwater camera located next to Read More...