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.
This EV charger doubles as a storage device for excess renewable energy
In 2020, there were about 216,000 chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) in the US. That number will have to increase tenfold by the end of the decade, as EV ownership continues to grow at an exponential rate. Accelerating the expansion of EV infrastructure, however, can be quite challenging. A Read More...
A simple sleeping bag could solve one of the biggest health risks of space travel
Astronauts who spend extended periods of time in space are at high risk for a vision issue called spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). When we sleep on earth, the blood and spinal fluid that flows to our head while we’re sleeping naturally drains away when we get up in the Read More...
Barcelona’s bus fleet will soon run on biofuel made from sewage sludge
In recent years, Barcelona has made headlines with a number of successful urban planning initiatives. One of the most famous ones is the superblock — a car-free zone that prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists by diverting traffic to major roads outside the city center. Greener Read More...
Botswana takes a giant leap in eradicating mother-to-child HIV transmission
The Republic of Botswana has achieved key milestones in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The country was previously classified as a “high burden” country, which is defined as more than two percent of women living with HIV. This achievement is thanks to a collaboration of The Read More...
We are one step closer to understanding Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists have an incomplete picture of the contributing factors of Alzheimer's disease, meaning there is still no preventative treatment or cure for sufferers. It is widely accepted that build-up of the protein ‘tau’ around the brain forms ‘plaques,' which stop signals from being able to be Read More...
Researchers make huge leap in fusion reactor technology
In a historic first, a fusion reactor has exceeded the energy efficiency of fossil fuels! The reaction yielded 1.3 megajoules of energy, a higher amount than the input of fuel it took to power the reactor. The group of physicists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory responsible for this Read More...
Robots can now reproduce on their own
Created using cutting edge biotechnology, xenobots are the world’s first living robots. They can amazingly make decisions and reproduce all on their own. These tiny living machines made out of frog cells duplicate themselves by collecting resources from the environment, with their offspring going Read More...
Researchers say Viagra could potentially treat Alzheimer's disease
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have determined that there is a drug that is already licensed and on the market that could be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease: Viagra. Yes, that’s right, sildenafil (branded Viagra on the market) was identified out of more than 1,600 Food and Drug Read More...
Game of Trawls: How AI-equipped fishing nets could help reduce by-catch
While a very popular practice in the fishing industry, bottom trawling has long been criticized for its huge negative impact on marine ecosystems. A new device from researchers in France, however, could finally help make the method more eco-friendly. What is bottom trawling and why is it bad for Read More...
Bionic eye may soon restore vision in patients with certain types of blindness
Scientists at the University of Sydney and University of New South Wales have developed an impressive device that sparks new hope for people with certain types of blindness—a bionic eye. The novel prosthesis, called the Phoenix99 Bionic Eye, is designed to restore the sight of patients with Read More...