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.
Study: Animals respond to speech the same way as humans
The brain’s response to sound is termed “frequency-following responses”, or FFRs. Clinicians use these as an assessor of hearing and speech capacity, helping them diagnose language disorders such as autism and dyslexia. FFR tests consist of a participant being played different sounds, with Read More...
How much would you pay for an Einstein original?
Albert Einstein was undoubtedly one of the greatest scientists that has ever lived. The German-born theoretical physicist is famous for his work developing theories about gravity, quantum mechanics, and importantly, his unruly hairstyle. In November 2021, a 54-page manuscript written by Einstein Read More...
Scientists strive to map and preserve underground fungal networks
Science is taking the fight against climate change underground—literally. The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks is on a mission to uncover the mysteries of the vast fungal networks found in the soil under our feet. We know that there’s an underground network comprised of Read More...
Jelly ice cubes are a zero waste solution for cold storage
What if we could ship refrigerated goods without the use of ice or traditional ice packs? This is the vision of UC Davis researchers who recently developed a new type of ice cube which does not melt and is compostable and anti-microbial. The new cubes, called “jelly ice cubes” contain mostly Read More...
Community and the environment get a boost with NY freeway transformation
Many urban highways from the 1950s and 1960s were deliberately built through neighborhoods primarily occupied by people of color, effectively walling these families off from economic opportunity and disrupting their sense of community. These same roads also increase the risks of air pollution for Read More...
This impact-absorbing technology will save lives (and traffic poles)
Crashing a vehicle is already a traumatizing and possibly fatal accident, but if the object that the vehicle collides into is a rigid street light pole that snaps off its base due to the impact, then chances of injury or death to those in the car and to pedestrians standing nearby are much higher. Read More...
Online mushroom hotline puts the power of crowdsourcing in poison control
Ninety nine percent of mushrooms are non-toxic, but the one percent which are can have fatal consequences if accidentally ingested. For people with pets or young children, a seemingly harmless patch of fungi in the front yard could be disastrous. Fortunately, a growing Facebook group is here to Read More...
Study: Covid-19 does not impact fetus brain development
A big source of anxiety during the pandemic came from the unknown impact of COVID-19 on pregnant people and their soon-to-be-born children. It has been observed that other viruses, such as HIV and rubella, can pass from mother to fetus through a process called vertical transmission. A research Read More...
This cutting edge camera is the size of a grain of salt
Micro-cameras are used in virtually all industries. In the medical field, these tiny cameras have helped facilitate less invasive medical imaging practices and improved robotic surgical tools. Structures of molecules and neural pathways have been uncovered using this technology, although achieving Read More...
Genetic editing in the microbiome could address a myriad of diseases
More and more research has emerged about the influence of the microbiome and gut health, not only on digestion but also on mental health and even chronic illness. In an effort to mobilize the microbiome to treat a wide array of diseases, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco Read More...