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.
First drone flies over the North Pole in the name of climate science
Drones have been flown into volcanoes, wildfires, and the Amazon in the name of science, but until this year, nobody had successfully flown a drone over the North Pole. That changed this fall when Roberta Pirazzini and Henna-Reetta Hannula piloted a drone over the Arctic’s northernmost region to Read More...
Scientists develop AI that detects Covid-19 by listening to your coughs
MIT scientists have developed AI that can detect Covid-19 by listening to a person force out a cough, even if that person is otherwise asymptomatic. To make this possible, the scientists developed neural networks that can distinguish subtle changes indicative of the novel coronavirus’ effects. Read More...
Bizarre: Whale sculpture saves Dutch train from falling off the tracks
Here’s another item to add to the list of bizarre things to happen in 2020: A Dutch metro train crashed through the stop blocks at a station just outside Rotterdam and was bound to fall 10 meters (32ft) to the ground. But rather than a tragic free fall, the train landed on top of a giant Read More...
Why scientists are sending drones into the plumes of active volcanoes
Monitoring active volcanoes across the world to send out early warnings before they erupt is a challenging undertaking. But scientists are now tapping into drone technology to help them predict eruptions more easily. Researchers from University College London and the University of Mexico have Read More...
This novel device developed by MIT grads could revolutionize dermatology
Seeking to deliver skincare treatments in a way that doesn’t involve needles or creams, two MIT grads started developing a device five years ago that delivers over the counter skincare actives by penetrating the skin with a fast-moving mist. Now, the recently launched technology holds promise to Read More...
High levels of vitamin D in first year may protect children from obesity
A new study out of the University of Michigan School of Public Health suggests higher levels of vitamin D in the first year of life can help protect children against obesity in adolescence. The study, which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, used data from more than 300 Read More...
This self-driving ferry in Norway can be hailed with the push of a button
Water transportation is voyaging into the future after a Norwegian company announced it will launch a zero-emission ferry next year that is fully autonomous. Operating in a similar fashion to an elevator, passengers will be able to call the ferry to their location by simply pressing a button. The Read More...
This startup produces rocket fuel using captured carbon
The fuel needed to launch a rocket into space creates a whole lot of emissions. In fact, each SpaceX launch is estimated to emit 715 tons of CO2, which is roughly as much as 10 cross-country flights on a 747. As spaceflights become more common, there is a need for a more sustainable source of fuel. Read More...
Exercise on your way to the polls with a free bike ride
Back in September, we wrote about an initiative from ride-sharing company Lyft that will allow voters to get free or discounted rides to their local polling stations. All you need to do is use the code 2020VOTE while requesting a ride. In a similar fashion, micromobility companies such as Bird Read More...
Revolutionary software translates chemist’s words into drug recipes
For years, chemist Lee Cronin of the University of Glasgow has dreamed of a future where researchers can distribute and produce molecules as easily as they email and print PDFs. That future has arrived thanks to Cronin and his colleagues, who have designed a system of chemical computers or Read More...