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.
Study: psilocybin therapy 4 times more effective than antidepressants
In 2020, Oregon voted to become the first state to legalize access to psilocybin for all adults. A study reinforces the idea that voters made a sensible decision. The preliminary human trials investigated the effect of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to treat the major depressive disorder Read More...
Maid of the Mist launches zero-emissions touring boats at Niagara Falls
Since 1846, the iconic Maid of the Mist ferries have been bringing visitors up close and personal with the breathtaking waterfalls at Niagara Falls. Now visitors are able to enjoy the awe-inspiring trip in a more environment-friendly manner, thanks to the recent launch of two new all-electric, Read More...
Burial site shows men were not always the hunters in prehistoric society
Traditional assumptions about prehistoric society placed males in hunting roles and women as gatherers. A new study from the University of California, Davis upends this archaeological thinking with the discovery of what looks like the remains of a 9,000 year old female hunter found in the Andean Read More...
Ojai, CA is the latest city to ban gas in new buildings
We recently discussed the benefits of an all electric home, including lower costs, reduced emissions, and better air quality. In a timely turn of events, the city of Ojai, California has banned gas in all new buildings with the exception of restaurants and pools. The city had already banned Read More...
Dutch brewery produces beer using clean energy generated by iron fuel
As an increasing number of industries are looking to break ties with fossil fuels and transition towards greener fuels to power their industrial processes, a strange candidate has recently gotten under the spotlight: iron. At least that’s what a brewery in the Netherlands recently tried out, by Read More...
Do fireflies glow in space? These 2nd graders launched a rocket to find out
In 2015, a second grade class in Indiana curiously asked whether fireflies would still glow if sent into space. After doing some research, their teacher, Maggie Samudio, figured out that for just half the cost of the school’s football uniforms, they could actually send a rocket to space and find Read More...
This self-watering soil hydrates plants all by itself
Researchers from the University of Texas have designed a self-watering soil that could provide plants with the on-demand hydration they need, even in dry climates. It may sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, the new soil uses moisture-absorbing gels to capture water from the air. This water Read More...
Smart implantable device to revolutionize the way we monitor heart disease
Pacemakers and other implantable cardiac devices used to monitor and treat heart conditions have generally posed one issue — either they are made with rigid materials that can't move to accommodate a beating heart, or they are made from soft materials that can collect only a limited amount of Read More...
Scientists develop battery-less underwater GPS system powered by sound
While we often use GPS systems to navigate unknown areas on land, GPS is not an option for underwater vehicles such as submarines. That’s because water impedes and scatters the radio waves GPS depends on, which is why submarines rely on sonar rather than radar to probe their surroundings. Read More...
Dots makes future technologies accessible to people with disabilities
While the rapid advent of future technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices represents an exciting development in our modern society, these technologies are often not adapted to everyone’s needs, leaving people with disabilities behind. Enter Dots, an Read More...