How to gauge whether the air is clean enough for outdoor exercise
At the Optimist Daily, we care about the well-being of our readers. That’s why we want to share this little guide to help you figure out whether the air quality in your area is safe enough for outdoor exercise. Especially as wildfires continue to blaze on the West Coast, it’s vital to keep an Read More...
Nearly a third of California land to be conserved by 2030 under new order
The year 2020 has seen millions of acres of California land ravaged due to unstoppable wildfires. To protect the state from further damage in the future, Governor Gavin Newsome has announced an executive order to reserve 30 percent of state land for conservation by 2030. The executive order will Read More...
Phew! California’s 2,000-year-old redwoods survived the wildfires
With over 1 million acres torched and 12,000 buildings burnt down, the California wildfires have already been the worst in history. But just when you thought things couldn’t get worse, the wildfires started sweeping through California’s oldest state park: Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Park Read More...
Therapy dog lends a helping paw to firefighters fighting CA blazes
As the pandemic and wildfires sweep through California, we are more grateful than ever for the first responders and medical staff who put their lives on the line every day to ensure the safety of their fellow citizens. For many firefighters, a lack of resources and stigma around mental health help Read More...
How the world’s biggest battery could help solve blackouts in California
California aims to run its grid entirely on fossil-fuel-free energy by 2045 and has been closing down dirty power plants and ramping up renewables at a steady clip. But while fuels can supply a steady stream of energy, the sun and wind are intermittent. That’s where the Gateway Energy storage Read More...
Firefighters saved an ancient grove of pine trees from Australian bushfires
Amidst the heart-rending wildfires blazing through Australia's vast lands, there is good news coming from the only forest in the world that is home to the Wollemi pine tree--one of the oldest trees in the world. In a covert firefighting mission, this ancient grove of pine trees whose ancestors are Read More...
The tech from self-driving cars could help prevent wildfires in the future
Last year, California had its most destructive and deadliest wildfire year on record. Increasingly dry, warm, and windy weather conditions wrought by climate change are a big reason why. But the immediate cause is often power lines: Downed lines that come into contact with nearby trees can create Read More...
This one-armed surfer developed the first eco-friendly fire-retardant spray
Jeff Denholm is known for being a big wave surfer with just one arm. What he’s less known for, however, is his environmental safe fire-retardant spray. After becoming an equipment lessor for fire departments, predominantly in the West, Denholm discovered that the fire-retardant sprays currently Read More...
How a team of goats saved the Ronald Reagan library from wildfires
Back in April, a squadron of 500 goats was released on the lands that surround Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Los Angeles. Why? To munch their way through around 13 acres of scrubland around the library that could’ve provided tinder-like fuel to a wildfire--one that would arrive some 7 Read More...
Airbnb is offering free housing to California wildfire evacuees
The Kincade, Tick, and Getty wildfires burning in the state of California right now have forced thousands of people to evacuate and have caused several power shutoffs. In fact, the Kincade Fire alone has displaced almost 200,000 people over an estimated 50,000 acres. To provide some relief for Read More...