Science
From mathematics and AI to medicine and psychology, The Optimist Daily features the latest news on discoveries, technological advances, and breakthroughs in the world of science. Our Science section is here to engage and enlighten you.
Scotland blows up its last coal plant as part of its green energy transition
In recent years, an increasing number of countries have moved away from coal in an effort to meet their climate targets. Scotland, for example, severed its ties with fossil fuel back in 2016, when it shut down its last remaining coal power plant. Last week, government officials blew up that same Read More...
Researchers spot Turkish fish for the first time since 1974
Ichthyologists recently came across a surprising discovery in two streams in southeast Turkey. The team was scouring the river when it came across a Batman River loach, a critically endangered fish last spotted in 1974. The hunt for the fish was part of the Search for Lost Fishes project from Read More...
Ancient comet solves puzzle of scattered glass in Chilean desert
Across a 75 kilometer stretch of the Atacama Desert in Chile, huge rocks of black and green glass can be found lying around. Researchers picked up on this unusual phenomenon around a decade ago, but they were stumped by this mystery with no reasonable explanation to be found, until now. A team Read More...
New battery biodegrades after a month in soil
E-waste is one of the most rapidly growing and toxic waste streams in the world today, but scientists at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have come up with a partial solution by creating biodegradable batteries that can actually be buried in soil once they’ve reached the Read More...
New Hampshire mom designs innovative car seat-friendly coat for kids
Anyone with kids knows how difficult it is to put young children in car seats in bulky winter coats. Innovative thinker and mother Dahlia Rizk was all too familiar with this challenge raising her children in the chilly winters of New Hampshire, so she decided to come up with a coat that would make Read More...
Researchers determine the evolution path of ancient giant orangutans
Once the dwellers of mainland Southeast Asia, the ancient giant orangutan is now extinct. Today, orangutans are only found in their natural habitat on the two islands of Sumatra and Borneo. These two are classed as different species due to the fact they grew so genetically different from each Read More...
Mosquitofish are a problem—a robotic bass could be the solution
What kind of feelings does the word “mosquito” bring up for you? Chances are they aren’t very positive feelings and are more along the lines of “annoyance,” or “irritation.” So, it shouldn’t be surprising to find out that the aquatic creature that bears the word “mosquito” in Read More...
This textile vent regulates your body temperature by sensing sweat
An innovative new invention has recently come out of Duke University. A team of material scientists recruited physics rather than electronics, to create a ventilation system that can help regulate body temperature. The lightweight material catches thermal energy when dry to power the opening of the Read More...
Winter Motivation: 4 Benefits of working out in cold weather
We all want to maintain an active lifestyle year round, but as the weather gets colder in the winter months, it can be difficult to find the motivation to put on your sneakers and get outside. Fortunately, there are some distinct benefits to working up a sweat in cold weather. It’s good for Read More...
Novel research could help improve the quality of life of people who stutter
According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, there are about three million people in the US who stutter. Since stuttering can make it difficult to communicate with other people, it can also take a toll on a person’s quality of life by negatively impacting job Read More...