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.
Jessica Watkins is first Black woman on a long-term mission aboard the ISS
Jessica Watkins will make history as the first Black woman to complete a long-term mission on the International Space Station (ISS) on the upcoming SpaceX Crew-4 launch, according to a statement released by NASA. Joining Watkins on her first voyage into space, which is set to launch in April Read More...
We’ve finally cracked the outer layer of HIV
The capsid is the complex outer layer surrounding HIV's genetic material. It is primarily used for protection, though also plays essential roles in early stage replication and transport inside the virus. A huge hurdle in HIV research has been figuring out how this protective protein is Read More...
Marvel at the power of the finger snap
Turns out the simple snap is a physics gold mine. Thanks to high-speed video footage from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, exactly how impressive the movement is has been exposed. The research group, led by Saad Bhamla, actually took inspiration from Marvel’s 2018 smash hit Avengers: Infinity War. Read More...
Microrobots may soon be swimming through our veins to kill cancer cells
We have shared many advancements in cancer research this year, such as the development of whole-genome sequencing, as well as various blood tests that can identify many types of cancer to help catch cancer earlier. Now, there’s a new and exciting addition: 3D-printed robotic animals that can Read More...
US allocates $6.6 million to Midwest Tribes for EV network
The US Department of Energy has approved $6.6 million in funding to create an electric vehicle charging network for Native American Tribes in the Midwest. Awarded to Native Sun Community Power Development and Standing Rock Renewable Energy Power Authority, the funding will be used to purchase Read More...
Could you build a net-zero city? This game lets you find out
More and more cities and countries are pledging to achieve net-zero emissions, but this task isn’t as easy as it seems. Some strategies, like installing renewable energy sources and electrifying public transport, are intuitive, but what about private households and emissions from landfills? To Read More...
Novel mRNA vaccine offers protection against Lyme disease
According to the CDC, there are around 30,000 Lyme disease infections reported in the US every year. This number is likely to be much higher, with estimations of actual infections being eight to 10 times more than those recorded. The little critters responsible for the disease are blacklegged ticks Read More...
Using black holes to study the expansion of the universe
Scientists have a new hypothesis called “cosmical coupling," which will potentially give more clues into how our mysterious world operates. The widely accepted theory about the origin of the universe is the Big Bang. It states that when the explosion occurred, the universe expanded outwards and Read More...
Scientists confirm: Grandmas really do love their grandchildren a lot
Even though many of us already have a strong inkling that our grandmas love us, it’s always nice to get confirmation. The researchers explored the brains of 50 grandmothers while they were shown an array of photographs—some were snaps of their grandchildren, while the rest of them were Read More...
Royal Air Force completes world's first flight powered by synthetic fuel
Earlier this month, Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) set a Guinness World Record for completing the world’s first flight that was powered entirely by synthetic fuel. According to a government press release, senior test pilot Group Captain Peter Hackett took off from Cotswold Airport on the Read More...