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.
South Australia powered itself with 100% solar to set global record
Solar energy is gaining momentum across the globe, but some of the world’s sunniest places have already adopted solar as a primary energy supplier. One of these areas leading by example in the field of renewables is the state of South Australia which just became the world’s largest region to Read More...
MIT’s autonomous water cabs are almost ready to take to the canals
Autonomous cars may be all the rage now in the world of land transportation but over the course of the last four years, some researchers at MIT have been busy developing a different kind of self-driving vehicle. Enter the Roboat — a smart boat that navigates on its own to transport passengers and Read More...
NASA: There is water on the moon hiding in lunar soil
Scientists have long argued as to whether there is water on the moon or not. Now, after decades of debate, NASA has solved the mystery: Water has been confirmed on the sunlit surface of the moon, and it’s not just in the form of ice limited to the shadowed surfaces of larger craters as previously Read More...
Why developers should ditch gas and build all-electric homes
The residential construction sector is booming during the coronavirus pandemic as more Americans dream of having a bit more space. As developers build new homes, a recent report from a clean energy think tank illustrates how developers can keep energy costs and climate impacts down in these new Read More...
New skin test can provide an early diagnosis of Parkinson’s
In order to diagnose patients with Parkinson’s disease, physicians rely on clinical signs and symptoms. The problem, however, is that this method of diagnosing is not entirely accurate, which complicates clinical trials of potential treatments. Not to mention the fact that if a patient is Read More...
Tiny sponge converts dirty cooking oil into biodiesel
Scientists in Australia have developed an incredible sponge-like material that can convert discarded cooking oil and other waste materials into biodiesel. The sponge, which is being described as the first of its kind, is micron-sized and highly porous. When molecules are fed into the sponge, they Read More...
This skin-like device could help ALS patients communicate more easily
People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) gradually lose control over the muscles that allow them to speak. And while there are some communication devices for ALS patients, most of them are quite cumbersome to use on a daily basis because of their bulky size and the fact that they’re Read More...
Electric cars should be as cheap to produce as regular models by 2024
A key factor that is limiting the adoption of electric vehicles is that they are simply more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts. For instance, a new Volkswagen Golf will cost you about $26,000, whereas the automaker’s first mass-market electric car will cost you at least $39,000. The Read More...
How switching schools to renewables can improve quality of education
In 2017, the Batesville School District, Arkansas, was facing serious financial struggles because of its high energy bills. In fact, the struggles were so big that most of its schools, six in total, were having a hard time retaining teachers and some of them even faced a possible shutdown. Read More...
Prisons often reject letters to inmates. This app stops that from happening
If you have a loved one in prison and want to contact them, generally you are allowed to call, email, or video chat with them. The only problem is prisons can charge a fortune for these services, leaving physical mail as the best and sometimes the only option for people behind bars. But mail Read More...