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.
Understanding fish fins could yield more efficient airplane wings
Last week we wrote about how studying elephant trunks is helping scientists build more versatile robotics. Now, a group of researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder has cracked the code on fish fins in the hopes that it will inspire similar design innovations. Fin structure Fish fins Read More...
How relocating urban highways is an act of racial justice
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. Urban planning and public policy researchers Julian Agyeman and Read More...
Could migratory birds provide early tsunami detection?
If you’ve ever had the unfortunate experience of witnessing a tsunami, tornado, or major tropical storm, you may have noticed a curious trend: the lack of birds. Although not fully backed by scientific evidence yet, researchers are investigating the anecdotal evidence that birds seem to be able Read More...
First zero-emission crewless cargo ship to set sail in Norway
Norwegian chemical company Yara International has created the world’s first zero-emission autonomous cargo ship, the Yara Birkeland. The shipping industry accounts for between 2.5 and 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization. The aim of Read More...
Medellín aspires to become Latin America's first "eco-city"
Medellín, Colombia has proven to the world that it is a city capable of transformation. Only three decades ago, it was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. However, by investing in their low-income communities, transportation infrastructure, education, technology, tourism, and Read More...
This joystick helps stroke patients regain muscle strength
Stroke patients who suffer from weakness of muscles in their arms have to perform regular rehabilitative exercises to regain strength in their limbs. In a bid to boost motivation and faster recovery, a team of scientists has found a way to gamify those exercises with the help of a gadget designed Read More...
Lyft and Uber announce protections for drivers under TX abortion law
Following the implementation of abortion restrictions in Texas which make Uber and Lyft drivers legally vulnerable for driving patients to abortion clinics, the transportation companies have announced that they will pay all legal fees for drivers implicated under the new law. Lyft announced the Read More...
Invisible teeth aligners help Ford make more eco-friendly cars
To make their manufacturing process more sustainable, automobile manufacturing giant Ford Motor Company has partnered with HP to find a way to recycle used materials from 3D printers into fuel-line clips for automobiles. The company that they’re sourcing these used materials from will put a smile Read More...
Solar-powered hot air balloon sets 32 world records
In 2019, Leticia Noemi Marqués of Argentina flew the Aerocene Pacha, a hot air ballon that ran entirely without fuel. It is now considered the most sustainable flight in human history, and one of the most important experiments in the history of aviation. Rather than being powered by batteries or Read More...
France is turning this unusual ingredient into fertilizer
Do you think about what happens to your urine after you’ve flushed it down the toilet? Most people probably don’t dwell on the subject because we think of human waste as simply that: waste. However, there are researchers and innovators who believe that it’s time for us to see that human waste Read More...