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.
This portable wind turbine can power your electric camping equipment
Yesterday, we shared a story about a bladeless turbine that could revolutionize wind power. On a similar note, today we would like to introduce to you the Wind Catcher, a portable power-generating wind turbine designed to change the camping experience. Developed by Copenhagen-based startup KiteX, Read More...
These organizations are empowering communities with bike education
Many cities have embraced expanded bike infrastructure as a green transportation solution which also allows people to safely get outside during the pandemic. Bike popularity has skyrocketed over the last year and for many communities, bicycles are also a vehicle for empowerment and Read More...
These bladeless wind turbines could revolutionize the renewable sector
Bladeless wind turbines may sound counterintuitive, but a new startup aims to prove that these devices could reinvent the way we harness wind power to generate clean electricity. Called Vortex Bladeless, the technology is the brainchild of inventor David Yáñez. Together with his six-person team, Read More...
How to stop a lake from exploding? Turn it into a power source
In most lakes, convection helps mix cool water from the depths with warm water at the surface, but in Lake Kivu, this is not the case. The lake, which lies on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is being slowly pulled apart by tectonic forces. This volcanic activity feeds Read More...
These students want to turn old chewing gum into skateboard wheels
While ubiquitous on city streets, discarded chewing gum is a form of plastic pollution that’s rarely a topic of discussion. To help spotlight this issue, two design students have come up with the idea of turning this street waste into skateboard wheels. The brainchild of Hugo Maupetit and Vivian Read More...
NaviLens helps the visually impaired navigate public transportation
If you’ve ever navigated an unfamiliar public transportation system, you likely relied heavily on signage to find your way around, but for the visually impaired, public transportation systems are often far less accessible. A new navigation app, NaviLens, hopes to change this by providing auditory Read More...
Real-time experiment shows efficacy of renewable grids during blackouts
Last summer, we wrote about the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. The facility is a collection of green energy experiments, including wind power, solar panels, and hydrogen energy storage. The goal of NREL is to demonstrate how the US could create truly scaled and Read More...
Goodbye dentures! Soon we may be able to regrow teeth naturally
Dentures may soon be a thing of the past as scientists in Kyoto University and the University of Fukui are working on developing a monoclonal antibody treatment that triggers the body to grow new teeth. Researchers have not run tests on humans just yet, but have experienced success with mice. Read More...
These algae solar panels generate green energy while cleaning the air
The solar panels of the future could be a lot greener (literally) than the ones currently adorning our rooftops and fields. At least that’s the vision of 23-year-old Mexican biotechnologist Adán Ramirez Sánchez, whose solar energy invention puts algae under the spotlight. Green energy from Read More...
Project-based learning equips students to face real-world problems
The pandemic has further upended traditional teaching methods and encouraged both parents and teachers to reevaluate how students learn best. Project-based learning is an up and coming teaching approach that emphasizes solving real-world challenges through exploration and asking open-ended Read More...