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.
We are not alone: First possible star-revolving planet found outside our galaxy
The search beyond our own galaxy never fails to keep uncovering new and exciting things about our mysterious universe. One of the most recent potential discoveries is a planet in the Messier 51 (M51) or Whirlpool galaxy. What makes this planet, named M51-ULS-1b, so special is the fact it transmits Read More...
Kenyan inventors craft biorobotic limb from recycled trash
David Gathu and Moses Kiuna are two young innovators from Nairobi, Kenya. Despite not being able to afford expensive university fees, their passion for science and desire to help their community has driven them to create an incredible bio robotic arm. Using any recycled materials they could get Read More...
How to best reuse and recycle your old laptop
Disposing of electronics can be a tricky thing, as they normally have to be processed through specially designed e-waste recycling programs. Today, we’re going to give you some ideas on how to reuse your old laptop so that you can make the most of it before discarding it, and then how to properly Read More...
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport partners with pigs to stop bird strikes
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest transportation hubs, has recruited a team of 20 pigs to help prevent geese and planes from colliding into each other, which is often fatal for the birds and hazardous for the planes. The land that the airport is situated on is below sea Read More...
Good news! Climate tech startups have raised more money than ever this year
This year may not have been the easiest year to get through—we find ourselves still reeling from the pandemic and on top of that, we are also dealing with extreme weather and the consequences of climate change. That said, according to a new report from Dealroom and London & Partners, it Read More...
US government funds psychedelic therapy research for the first time in 50 years
Fifty years after being classified as a Schedule I drug in the US, psychedelic therapy has officially received federal funding from the government in what researchers see as a huge shift in the medical and public perception of the benefits of psychedelics. Using psychedelics to help treat tobacco Read More...
Novel DNA extraction method confirms identity of Sitting Bull’s great-grandson
Researchers from the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Cambridge are celebrating the successful extraction of usable DNA from a long-dead person after 14 years of effort. The method, developed by a team of scientists led by Eske Willerslev, was recently used to confirm the Read More...
Why do leaves change color in the fall?
The vibrant colors of autumn leaves is one of the best parts of the fall season, but why exactly do trees put on this colorful display each year? Today we’re exploring the scientific reasons behind one of nature’s most gorgeous phenomena. Preparing for winter As the weather slowly starts to Read More...
Alphabet makes its low-cost water harvester open-source
According to WHO/UNICEF, about a third of the global population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water. More than half of these people, however, live in areas with just the right climate conditions to enable special water harvesting technologies to provide clean drinking water. This is Read More...
Jersey City program expands access to local vertical farms
Vertical farms have been praised for their adaptability in dense spaces as well as low resource use. Another advantage is that they offer locally-grown produce to consumers that live miles away from traditional farmlands. In Jersey City, an innovative scheme is combining these different benefits of Read More...