A group of Australian biologists have discovered that a giant snail species considered extinct hasn’t gone the way of the dodo. They undertook one of the largest captive snail breeding and reintroduction efforts in Australian, and perhaps world history. Campbell’s keeled glass snail was listed as Extinct by the IUCN in 1996 after several surveys […] The post Thought Extinct, Snail Scientists Embark on Largest Snail Breeding and Reintroduction Effort in History appeared first on Good News Network.

In Atlanta, what began as an emergency helping hand to the community has been extended to a Christmas giveaway, where 100 families received free meals, gifts, and more. The Santa’s Workshop event held on Monday surprised dozens of Midtown Atlanta families with new toys, bikes, and even electronics: to support outdoor play and school work. […] The post Atlanta Restaurant Provided for 100 Families During the Shutdown, Now Throws Christmas Giveaway for Them appeared first on Good News Network.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Welcome to our Best of 2025 spotlight on the environment, which we all know is one of the most dynamic and urgent spaces for innovation and impact. This year brought so5e truly awe-inspiring breakthroughs in sustainability, conservation, and climate resilience. These stories remind us that when creativity and science meet care for the planet, real transformation is possible. The SS United States, once a gleaming symbol of American engineering might, is charting a new course beneath the waves. The 1,000-foot ocean liner, which shattered transatlantic speed records on its maiden voyage in 1952, has left its long-time berth on Philadelphia’s Delaware River. Its destination? The bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, where it will become the world’s largest artificial reef. This ambitious plan comes after years of uncertainty about the ship’s fate, a tense rent dispute, and a last-minute safety inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessel is currently being towed to Mobile, Alabama, for extensive prep work before its final submersion off the coast of Okaloosa County, Florida. Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the ship’s designer, expressed mixed emotions about the historic journey. “The ship will forever symbolize our nation’s strength, innovation, and resilience,” Gibbs said. “We wish her ‘fair winds and following seas’ on her historic journey to her new home.” A record-breaking past and an uncertain future In its heyday, the SS United States was a marvel of modern engineering. On its maiden voyage, the ship set a transatlantic speed record of 36 knots—just over 41 miles per hour—crossing the Atlantic Ocean in three days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes. This impressive feat bested the RMS Queen Mary’s time by 10 hours, a record that remains unbeaten by any ocean liner to this day. The vessel’s speed wasn’t just for show; it was designed with national security in mind. In addition to ferrying wealthy passengers across the Atlantic, the SS United States was capable of transporting thousands of troops at unprecedented speeds in the event of a military emergency. But as air travel rose to dominance, the ship’s glory days quickly faded. By 1969, it was relegated to reserve status and eventually passed through the hands of several private owners, all of whom found the cost of restoring the vessel to be prohibitively expensive. A new life beneath the waves Transforming a massive ocean liner into an artificial reef is no small task. The process involves extensive cleaning to ensure that no pollutants harm marine ecosystems, as well as careful planning to position the ship in a way that will maximize its appeal to marine life and divers alike. Officials estimate that it will take at least one-and-a-half years to complete the cleaning, transportation, and submersion of the vessel. If all goes according to plan, the SS United States will join more than 500 artificial reefs already off the coast of Florida’s Panhandle, providing a new home for coral, fish, and other marine species. Preserving history while embracing the future For many, the decision to transform the SS United States into an artificial reef is a bittersweet one. The ship’s storied past, from its record-breaking voyages to its service as a symbol of American innovation, makes it a powerful icon. But with restoration costs soaring and no viable alternatives, this new plan offers a way to preserve the vessel’s legacy—if not above water, then beneath it. Susan Gibbs acknowledged the mixed emotions surrounding the decision but expressed hope that the ship’s next chapter will be a fitting tribute. In a world where climate change and environmental degradation pose increasing threats to our oceans, transforming a historic vessel into a marine sanctuary feels like a fitting end to the SS United States’ long and storied journey.The post From ocean icon to world’s largest artificial reef: the final voyage of the SS United States first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Welcome to our Best of 2025 spotlight on the environment, which we all know is one of the most dynamic and urgent spaces for innovation and impact. This year brought some truly awe-inspiring breakthroughs in sustainability, conservation, and climate resilience. These stories remind us that when creativity and science meet care for the planet, real transformation is possible. If you’re an elk trekking through Park County, Colorado, winter just got a little bit smoother. Thanks to a first-of-its-kind agreement between rancher Dave Gottenborg and two conservation groups, thousands of elk now have safe passage through his 3,000-acre Eagle Rock Ranch. In return, Gottenborg gets a hefty portion of his cattle grazing lease costs covered without signing away his land in perpetuity. “Ranchers are conservationists in and of themselves,” said Brendan Boepple, conservation director at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, which helped broker the deal. But traditional conservation easements—permanent legal agreements—aren’t always the best fit. “We’re trying to create new tools for conservation.” And this one has ranchers across the state asking how they can get in on it. Elk-friendly fencing, with less rancher frustration Gottenborg isn’t new to helping wildlife. Every winter, he takes down parts of his barbed wire fence to allow migrating elk to pass through without getting tangled, knowing full well they’ll still trample his grazing grounds and damage fences. “They show up and eat 20 pounds of forage per day, per elk,” he said. Not exactly ideal for a cattleman. But this year, there’s a silver lining. The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), a conservation-minded think tank, is stepping in to ease the burden. They’re covering more than two-thirds of Gottenborg’s lease costs for five years as long as the land remains open to elk. When asked why they weren’t paying the full cost of the lease, Gothenburg explained, “We agreed to keep the payment less than 100 percent so it would still be more profitable for third-party landowners to keep agricultural grazing usage”. If PERC footed the full bill, landowners might ditch cattle entirely and lease to elk instead, a situation Gottenborg says would “devastate” ranchers. Conservation economics with a twist PERC isn’t your average conservation organization. Founded by economists during the Cold War, the group began with a question: if markets can deliver food and cars, why not environmental quality? The answer lies in the incentives. From resolving water disputes by matching buyers and sellers of water rights to advocating for smarter national park fee models, PERC pushes for market-based solutions to environmental challenges. They’ve even explored using AI to count elk and calculate “rent” based on their presence. PERC’s conservation director, Travis Brammer, emphasized that the group’s goal is not to commodify wildlife but to “incentivize conservation.” That means new tools; not the “same old playbook” of the last 50 years. Keeping the elk moving, not camping There’s no elk baiting going on here. Gottenborg gives them no salt licks or mineral supplements to linger. “The idea is to keep them moving, but of course, they can stop if they want,” he said. The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust will monitor compliance using trail cameras, drones, and site visits, ensuring Gottenborg sticks to the agreed pasture rotations. Boepple noted the public benefits, too: as elk migrate through Eagle Rock Ranch, they’ll be visible in public wildlife areas like the nearby Collard Ranch, offering opportunities for wildlife viewing and hunting. Addressing hunter concerns Gottenborg anticipates some raised eyebrows, especially from hunters worried he’s setting up a private outfitting business or turning the place into an elk refuge. To that, he offers a firm rebuttal: “No, no and NO. I’m not a hunter, although I’m not opposed to hunting.” He added, “Hunters will likely say, ‘the elk belong to the people of Colorado, and we should have the right to shoot them.’ Yes, they are right. But the rancher’s retort is, ‘then why don’t you come around and feed them once in a while in the winter?’” The beginning of a new migration model This isn’t a one-off. Other Colorado ranchers are already asking the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust how they can replicate the model. With elk and other migratory species often relying on a patchwork of public and private lands, this kind of incentive-based deal could change the game. “It’s business as usual for the elk,” Boepple said, “but a new way forward for how we think about conservation partnerships.”The post Elk win the right of way in Colorado thanks to a rancher’s bold conservation deal first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Welcome to our Best of 2025 spotlight on the environment, which we all know is one of the most dynamic and urgent spaces for innovation and impact. This year brought some truly awe-inspiring breakthroughs in sustainability, conservation, and climate resilience. These stories remind us that when creativity and science meet care for the planet, real transformation is possible. In a country where the car is king, a bold car-free community in Arizona is challenging the status quo. Culdesac Tempe, a $200 million, 17-acre development, is designed to prioritize walkability, public transit, and community connection. Since its debut in 2021, the high-profile project has drawn both praise and skepticism, but two years in, the verdict from its residents is largely positive. Home to about 300 tenants in 288 units, Culdesac offers a lifestyle built around human interaction rather than parking spaces. Residents have been lured by free e-bikes, public transit passes, and easy access to amenities, eliminating the need for private cars. “Culdesac said, ‘Here’s a free e-bike; here are free transit passes—use them.’ I was impressed,” said Sheryl Murdock, a postdoctoral ocean researcher at Arizona State University who moved from Canada to be closer to work. But does this model actually work? And could it be a blueprint for more cities across the U.S.? The design: where the streets belong to people Without the need for roads and parking garages, Culdesac’s layout is optimized for pedestrian life. Instead of wide asphalt streets, paseos (walkable pathways) weave through clusters of buildings, creating shaded walkways and fostering social interaction. Architect Daniel Parolek of Opticos Design led the heat-conscious desert-modern design, writing that eliminating car infrastructure “opened up the opportunity to focus on creating people-oriented spaces.” Public spaces include courtyards, communal seating, murals, and a neighborhood-wide high-speed Wi-Fi network. The result? A neighborhood that feels less like a typical American suburb and more like a Mediterranean town. “It reminds me of Mykonos,” Murdock noted. “The walkways wind between bright-white buildings, limiting sun exposure while making the whole space feel welcoming.” Overcoming early hurdles While residents now praise the development, early phases weren’t without complaints. Some amenities were delayed, including retail spaces, the fitness center, and the pool. “It didn’t hit the ground running, but now there is a lot,” said Murdock. Today, the neighborhood boasts a gym, dog park, co-working spaces, and local retailers, including a bike shop, Korean market, coffee shop, and a James Beard–nominated Mexican restaurant. For those who need a car occasionally, an on-site car rental service offers vehicles for five dollars an hour. Despite initial skepticism, many residents say the lack of cars has strengthened community bonds. Ignacio Delgadillo, a former suburban homeowner, moved into a two-bedroom unit with his wife and four-year-old son. He was drawn to the safety of the car-free design, explaining that his son can now ride his bike freely without the dangers of vehicle traffic. “We’ve probably made more connections here in six months than we did in 15 years in the suburbs.” Can walkable neighborhoods work in America? The idea of walkable, transit-oriented developments isn’t new; many European cities already embrace them. But scaling this model in the U.S. poses challenges. American suburban sprawl is built around cars, and a recent Pew Research survey found that most Americans still prefer larger homes further from amenities rather than compact, walkable communities. Even so, cities are relaxing zoning laws to allow for denser housing, reducing parking mandates, and investing in public transit, all steps that could pave the way for more Culdesacs. “We need more housing and land-use experimentation,” said Kevin DeGood, director of infrastructure policy at the Center for American Progress. “Bold experiments like Culdesac show there is real demand for alternatives.” The future of Culdesac and beyond Culdesac’s ultimate goal is to house 1,000 residents across 700 units. With the project slated for completion within three years, its impact could influence future developments across the U.S. While critics argue that a single-car-free neighborhood won’t solve America’s urbanization issues, Culdesac’s success suggests a growing appetite for walkable, community-driven living. Murdock, for one, is all in. “Once our kids finish high school, I’m hoping the family and the dog will join me. If units here ever become available for sale, I would definitely buy.”The post America’s first car-free neighborhood is proving walkability works first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.