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.
Nurturing nature: The US launches the biggest-ever survey of nature and wildlife
With the unprecedented National Nature Assessment, the United States is beginning a ground-breaking adventure to protect its natural resources. In a presentation at the Ecological Society of America Conference in Oregon earlier this week, Phil Levin, director of the project and part of the faculty Read More...
Cultivating climate resilience at COP28: 7 game-changing food and agriculture innovations
The convergence of global pressures, such as climate change and the mounting demands of a fast-growing population, has shone a bright light on agriculture's critical role in addressing these challenges. This important priority was highlighted at the recent United Nations climate conference, which Read More...
New Zealand's groundbreaking shift to renewables promises massive emissions reductions
New Zealand launched its most ambitious emissions reduction initiative to date in an incredible undertaking. The government announced a historic switch from coal to renewable energy at Glenbrook, the country's largest steel factory. This transition is expected to eliminate the emissions equivalent Read More...
European Commission President christens world's first "green shipping container"
On September 14th, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen christened the Laura Maersk, the world's first green container ship, in a historic ceremony. This extraordinary vessel, owned by the Danish business Maersk, is expected to change the future of marine transportation by running Read More...
Electric taxis take flight— The greener future of urban air travel
A quiet electric aircraft resembling a bug-like creature glides above the iconic Eiffel Tower and the zinc-grey rooftops of Paris in a stunning spectacle. The Paris area intends to exhibit a small fleet of electric flying taxis during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, clearing the way for a Read More...
Could California’s solar canal project be an answer for climate resilience?
In a state beleaguered by drought, high temperatures, and growing wildfire dangers, the idea of placing solar panels over irrigation canals to address both water loss and climate pollution is finally getting traction. Solar AquaGrid creators Jordan Harris and Robin Raj envisioned a game-changing Read More...
High-tech robotic hive keeps honeybees alive during cold spells
While honeybees are notoriously difficult to study, changing their natural behavior when any outside influences are detected, they are also extremely vulnerable to colony collapse due to cold. If hive temperatures fall below 50 °F, the bees stop buzzing and producing heat and fall into a lethal Read More...
Study finds yet another potential use for aloe plants—Natural insecticide
The green skin and stomach protector aloe vera unveiled a new weapon in its arsenal: its discarded peels. Previously discarded as agricultural trash, these peels are now set to become nature's response to crop-munching pests. Scientists at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley developed a Read More...
New technique reverses damage left by heart attacks
Our hearts are incredible for all that they do— but that said, they aren't great at mending themselves. Consequently, after a heart attack, a lot of scar tissue forms in the heart, making it less pliable and unable to pump blood. Researchers have identified a way to reverse some of the damage Read More...
The future of sustainable fashion: self-healing mushroom-based leather
The environmental impact of the fashion industry has become an increasing worry in a society where fast fashion has been the standard. But there is good news! Three biotechnologists based in the UK have created a new type of self-healing leather derived from mycelium, the vegetative component of a Read More...