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.
Machine vision software reveals how spiders weave their web
How does a spider make a web? You’ve probably accidentally wandered into a spider web and wondered how they make these creations right under your nose without you noticing. This is because most spiders do their web weaving at night, away from prying human eyes. However, research from scientists Read More...
Scientists discover natural antibiotics already inside the human body
One of the potential threats that the human species must soon face is antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As bacteria continue evolving to become resistant to the medicines that we use to treat them, previously-curable infections become “superbugs” and come back stronger and more dangerous. Some Read More...
Venus Flytraps generate magnetic fields when it’s time to eat
The most famous carnivorous plant, the Venus flytrap, is a pretty weird specimen. Possessing no nervous system, muscles, or tendons, they are able to trap their meals in fang-like mouths. Once their prey is enclosed by their jaws, they start to eat them, using digestive acids and enzymes to Read More...
Easy-to-repair Fairphone raises the bar for sustainable smartphone design
Current smartphone manufacturing methods have a hefty carbon footprint. These poor environmental credentials are only worsened by yearly device releases and hard-to-repair phones, contributing to an already overwhelming amount of e-waste. Some of the carbon-intensive components inside the device, Read More...
Metallic water created on Earth for the first time
Earlier this year, a research team from the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague looked to achieve something science never has before: making metallic water here on Earth. Water is normally bound to other water molecules in a liquid state, but when a high enough pressure is applied, these water Read More...
Rare genetic variant explains pain-free childbirth in some women
Childbirth is the most painful experience of many women’s lives, but for a select few, the process is far less unpleasant. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found that a small proportion of women with a rare genetic variant have a higher threshold for pain during Read More...
New invention slashes time in diagnosing antibiotic resistance
Thanks to the overuse of antibiotics and the intelligence of microorganism evolution, antibiotic-resistant pathogens are on the rise. According to the CDC, over 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections arise annually in the US. The cost of this problem is estimated to be around $4.6 billion per Read More...
This is the most detailed map ever of US cancer-linked industrial pollution
Air pollution has been linked to numerous diseases including asthma, cancer, and heart disease, but while air pollution can negatively affect all of us, its damage is disproportionately felt by certain populations. Breaking down where air pollution is most potent and why is the first step to Read More...
Say goodbye to cracked screens and hello to nanocrystals
We’ve all been there; Watching in slow motion as our phones come crashing down to the floor. Bending down filled with dread to see the possible damage to our screens and another potential hole in our wallets. Thanks to new breakthrough research out of the University of Queensland, this experience Read More...
This algae-filled bounce house captures CO2 as children jump
We recently shared how an innovative playground in Poland uses algae to capture CO2 and create a safer play space for children. Now, that same concept has traveled to the COP26 climate conference where it is gaining international attention in the form of a children’s bounce house. At first Read More...