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.
New process separates fabric microplastics into harmless CO2 and H2O
We recently shared a story about balls of seaweed that help collect plastic from the seafloor, but the question still remains, what do we do with this plastic once we collect it? Researchers from Quebec's Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) may have an answer with their new Read More...
Japanese studio designs airless soccer ball for kids in impoverished areas
One of the beautiful aspects of the sport of soccer is that you only need a ball to play, but even that can be difficult to attain in impoverished countries. And even if a ball is acquired, the ball needs to be kept inflated and will eventually deteriorate, especially when used on a rough surface. Read More...
Scientists engineer plane component that cuts NOx emissions by 95%
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are one of the biggest contributors to air pollution and have been associated with a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Research shows that the aviation industry’s share of total NOx emissions contributes to an estimated 16,000 premature deaths every Read More...
New solar windows allow more light to pass through than ever before
Over the years, we’ve written a number of stories about the potential of solar windows that could convert light into energy. The technology, however, has yet to take off. The main problem is that the solar windows created thus far have been too opaque, failing to allow much light to come Read More...
This site lets you take control of Canon’s satellite and ‘take photos’
If you have ever wanted to take a photo from space, we have just the thing for you. Recently, Canon unveiled a new interactive site that lets you utilize its CE-SAT-1 satellite, which is equipped with a lightly modified 5D Mark III DSLR. Orbiting at 375 miles above the Earth, the camera provides Read More...
The surprising reason you should turn your camera off during Zoom calls
To all of you who have been keeping their cameras off during Zoom calls, well done. You may have simply been trying to hide your face, but what you might not have realized is that you were drastically cutting your carbon footprint. In a new study, researchers analyzed the environmental effect Read More...
Re-Wind wants to build things using old wind turbine blades
While a rapidly growing wind energy industry is a positive sign for our transition toward carbon-free energy sources, there is a disadvantage to all this growth: more waste. The blades on wind turbines only have a lifespan of about 20 years, so older decommissioned wind turbine blades from early Read More...
GM launches all-electric delivery fleet for a greener e-commerce future
The pandemic has created a boom in the already exploding e-commerce industry. People are ordering goods online more than ever before, but delivering those goods is a carbon-intensive process. General Motors has launched a new line of all-electric products to help make e-commerce Read More...
Amputees perceive their legs as too heavy, but scientists have a solution
Despite the fact that prosthetic legs are usually less than half the weight of a natural limb, leg amputees often perceive their prosthesis as too heavy. This is due to the loss of sensory feedback that amputees suffer from. In order to restore sensory feedback and help amputees perceive their Read More...
AI-powered robot that rapidly sorts through recyclables is going global
Before plastic can become recycled products, that plastic needs to be manually sorted by workers at a recycling center. The problem is that recycling centers can’t afford to hire the number of people needed to sort through all the plastic they receive each day, and even if they could afford it, Read More...