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.
Cheaper and Cleaner: Europe’s renewable energy success story
Europe made history over the last six months when it generated more electricity from renewable sources than it did from fossil fuels. Over 40 percent of the electricity used by the EU’s 27 member states came from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy. In contrast, fossil Read More...
The Optimist View: ITP Small grants change the world
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead The Optimist View is our long-form edition weekend publication which dives deeper on the critical solutions we cover on The Optimist Daily. Read More...
Scottish distillery unveils transport fleet that runs on whiskey waste
Like an increasing number of businesses around the world, whiskey giant Glenfiddich recently pledged to reduce its footprint on the environment. With that goal in mind, the company started adapting its delivery trucks to run on low-emission biofuel created from its own whiskey waste. Adopting a Read More...
The Optimist View: An Ode to Laughter
Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh. — W. H. Auden Throughout the long trials of Covid-19, one of the main things that has linked humans together and always improves a situation, no matter how dire, Read More...
Pedestrians have priority under Britain's revised Highway Code
Many of us will be familiar with the memorable Spiderman line: “With great power comes great responsibility.” This is the spirit behind the “hierarchy of responsibility,” the Highway Code revision that Great Britain plans to implement this autumn, pending parliamentary approval. Under Read More...
This innovative dome battery uses carbon dioxide to store green energy
As the world works to adopt renewables as its main source of power, we need to develop reliable and cheap ways to store and release green electricity on demand. As counterintuitive as it sounds, carbon dioxide may just be a promising candidate in helping us achieve that. At least that’s the idea Read More...
Rotating water still device produces potable water at much faster rate
Solar stills are a primary technology for extracting potable water from tainted or salinated water, and while they’re useful in water-scarce regions, their technology is still relatively inefficient. Fortunately, a team of researchers from Russia's Ural Federal University has reconceptualized the Read More...
Orkney islands’ tidal turbine officially connects to UK power grid
The Orkney islands are famous for the innovative use of green hydrogen, but green hydrogen can’t exist without partnering with renewable energy sources and when you’re a chain of small islands, most of that renewable energy comes from the sea. Now, the islands officially have another source of Read More...
Indiana to test roads that charge your EV while you drive
Imagine being able to charge your electric vehicle while you drive. Magment, a German company, is working in collaboration with the Indiana state government and Purdue University to make this a reality. Together, they will test out new streets that have been developed to automatically charge the Read More...
This start-up has pedestrians generating clean energy in Sierra Leone
If you are reading this article, then chances are that you are in a country with abundant access to electricity. For most people living in Sierra Leone, the opposite is true. In fact, the West African country has one of the lowest access rates for electricity across the globe. Just six percent of Read More...