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.
F-150: The most popular pickup truck in America goes electric
The best-selling vehicle in the United States is getting an electric upgrade: On Wednesday, Ford unveiled an all-electric version of North America’s most popular pickup truck, the F-150, marking a milestone for the country’s efforts to put more EVs on the road. Ford F-Series has been a Read More...
Papilio is a self-powered street lamp designed to reduce light pollution
Human innovation has driven our civilizations forward, but oftentimes at the detriment of other species. For instance, conventional lights and street lamps allow people to work and navigate at night, but they can confuse nocturnal life and attract pollinators, killing them in the process. Tobias Read More...
Fluorescent dye can help determine when to replace your car's electric motor
The age of the electric vehicle is upon us, but with this new era comes a learning curve as we figure out how electric motors function over time. While many studies show that electric cars require less maintenance than their gas-powered counterparts, they are still prone to wear and Read More...
Sustainable and beautiful "tulip turbines" pop up just in time for spring
Here at The Optimist Daily, we are big fans of wind energy as a renewable and sustainable source of power—but that’s not to say that it doesn’t come with a few downfalls. Wind energy requires wind turbines to convert kinetic energy into electricity. These turbines generate noise pollution, Read More...
Fiber optics enable scientists to accurately track changes in ice sheets
Monitoring temperatures of huge masses of ice is key to understanding how climate change affects our planet. So far, scientists have been performing such monitoring by fitting sensors to cables that are fed down a hole, but such devices can only offer readings of the environment at certain Read More...
Harvard researchers uncover breakthrough in lithium-metal battery efficiency
Researchers at Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science have discovered what is being referred to as the “holy grail” of battery breakthroughs, solving a 40-year quest for a fast-charging, long-lasting electric vehicle battery. The newly developed lithium-metal Read More...
Top wind energy company develops fully recyclable blade technology
Wind energy is a key pillar in our renewable energy future, but even green technologies have some drawbacks. EV batteries need to eventually be recycled and wind turbines can interfere with bird populations and produce waste as well. In an effort to address one of these critical issues, wind Read More...
North Sailing offers Iceland's first carbon-neutral silent whale-watching tours
Much of the ocean remains a vast mystery to us land-dwellers, however, advancements in research and aquatic observation are pushing us towards a greater understanding of marine creatures and their environments. One of these budding areas of study is the way in which noise pollution impacts life Read More...
This electric motorbike could help protect endangered wildlife in Africa
Rangers working to prevent poaching in Africa often use motorbikes to patrol protected areas. The vehicles, however, run on gas-guzzling engines that require expensive and inaccessible gasoline. On top of that, the loud motors make it virtually impossible to sneak up on poachers. A new partnership Read More...
This startup is investigating the legitimacy of carbon credit programs
Carbon credits can be an effective way to transition large companies to a carbon-neutral future, but when it comes to creating these credits, accountability is critical to ensure they are actually removing the amount of carbon they claim to be from the atmosphere. One organization working to Read More...