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These 2 countries embraced nuclear power. Here’s what they can teach Minnesota
Nuclear power Featured

These 2 countries embraced nuclear power. Here’s what they can teach Minnesota

Minnesota's moratorium prevents new reactors – for now, and there’s much to learn from France’s nuclear past and Canada’s nuclear future

Explore the grey areas through our series: Nuclear at a Crossroads
art Featured

Explore the grey areas through our series: Nuclear at a Crossroads

A comic to illustrate the ambivalence toward nuclear power that's common in Minnesota politics and beyond.

Nuclear at a Crossroads: Does nuclear power stand a chance in Minnesota amid a moratorium and carbon-free mandate?
Nuclear power Featured

Nuclear at a Crossroads: Does nuclear power stand a chance in Minnesota amid a moratorium and carbon-free mandate?

Minnesota politicians ponder the fate of the ‘friendly atom’

Minnesota's forests are slow adapting to climate change. These scientists are giving trees a head start
environment Featured

Minnesota's forests are slow adapting to climate change. These scientists are giving trees a head start

Innovative research in the Superior National Forest may serve as a template for forest resiliency nation-wide.

Drawn by Nature: Find funky fungi late summer through early fall
environment Featured

Drawn by Nature: Find funky fungi late summer through early fall

Late summer and early fall rank as the peak time for many wild mushrooms – especially edible varieties.

Pencil drawing of yellow and black swallowtail butterfly on an orange, spotted tiger lily bloom.
wildflowers

Drawn by Nature: Prairie plants provide sustainable, essential ecosystem

Keep your eyes open for pollinators, including swallowtails, eastern tailed-blues, painted ladies, hummingbird moths, hummingbirds, rusty-patched bumblebees and more.

Book excerpt: 'Working Across Lines: Resisting extreme energy extraction'
environment

Book excerpt: 'Working Across Lines: Resisting extreme energy extraction'

What does it take to bridge political divides? Lessons from organizers in western Idaho

Newsletters Archive Featured

What's a green burial and why is there a moratorium on these new cemeteries?

Minnesota paused ‘green burials’ because of a bitter fight over a cemetery in Carlton County. It has led to questions of religious freedom

Newsletters Archive

The research and story behind Project Optimist

Jobs for news analysts, reporters and journalists are expected to decline another 9% from 2021 to 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Newsletters Archive

Have you ever seen the elusive 'hummingbird moth'?

What does it take to bridge political divides? Lessons from organizers in western Idaho

Newsletters Archive

Happy Independence Day!

Greetings! Nora here. We're at the heart of summer now. I hope you're enjoying time off this week for July 4th (and maybe a few extra days too!). If you're hungry for some Project Optimist content, please explore our website. We switched things up on our site, and you can

How relationships and trust can bridge political divides

Book excerpt this week from Dr. Corrie Grosse's 'Working Across Lines'

COLUMN | Queer Climate Justice
Community voices

COLUMN | Queer Climate Justice

"These two movements for equity and justice should coalesce and learn from one another."

Where environmental and LGBTQIA+ issues meet, we have a zine

We've got a student-made zine for Pride month

Illustration of a resilient nurse who's able to fend off burnout. (Ginny McClure for Project Optimist)
business Featured

Care for the caregivers: Reflective consultation can help therapists serving children and families

This practice is helping some frontline workers manage burnout. Here's how it works

Good corporate culture is a priority for businesses in today's labor market. (Andi Arnold for The Optimist)
business

How culture helped 2 St. Cloud manufacturers grow despite the tight labor market

So what does a good, intentional culture look like? Experts agree it's responsive to employees and treats them with respect

Drawing of a sandhill crane and colt by Lisa Meyers McClintick
environment

Drawn by Nature: Watch out for wildlife babies as summer nears

In addition to possibly seeing wildlife and birds with their babies this time of year, June also puts on a show with wildflowers

Our logo is a piece of art
art Featured

Our logo is a piece of art

The story of Project Optimist's hand-carved logo

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