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.
Playing underwater ‘music’ attracts young fish to degraded coral reefs
Whether it’s the “crackle of snapping shrimp” or the swishing sounds of fish passing by, a healthy coral reef tends to be quite a noisy place. These are sounds that young fish are attracted to once they have hatched and spent their larval stage in the open ocean. The problem is that once a Read More...
Firefighters are using fireball-dropping drones to contain wildfires
As the West Coast continues to battle unprecedented wildfires, firefighters are taking innovative steps to try to keep the flames under control. More recently, firefighters in the region have added drones to the equation, using the technology to drop special fireballs to contain the spread of the Read More...
Apple removes chargers and earbuds from new iPhones to cut waste
When Apple announced that the its new lineups of iPhone 12s won’t come with accessories such as a wall charger or earbuds, many consumers were annoyed, dismissing it as a purely economic move on Apple’s part. But from an environmental perspective, it’s a great move. To start with, the lack Read More...
Lifelike robotic creatures could be the future of theme parks and aquariums
Going to the aquarium may be a great way to learn about sea creatures, but keeping animals in captivity for such purposes usually comes hand in hand with a number of ethical problems. US engineering firm Edge Innovations wants to change that by creating animatronic dolphins that look almost Read More...
Scientists use microwaves to turn plastic waste into clean hydrogen
One of the main contributors to plastic pollution is the ubiquity of difficult-to-recycle plastic packaging such as plastic bags, milk bottles, and sachets. Because they are such a pain to recycle, most of these single-use plastics end up in landfills or waterways, polluting the environment as a Read More...
IEA: Renewables are the only major power source to grow in 2020
In its annual World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that renewables are expected to overtake coal as the primary means of producing electricity by 2025. The combined share of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind in the global generation will rise to almost 30 percent in Read More...
This wearable sensor can be printed directly onto the skin
Scientists at Penn State University have developed a wearable sensor that can be safely printed directly onto the skin to track things like temperature and blood oxygen levels. The printable sensor looks a bit like a high-tech henna tattoo and can be used to continuously record human data. Once the Read More...
These tiny cargo bikes want to revolutionize urban delivery
Delivery drivers spend almost 30 percent of their time looking for parking spots for their trucks, according to this study. When they don’t find one, they often end up blocking traffic. A German startup is determined to put an end to such messy logistics by coming up with a viable Read More...
This tiny electric car designed by students is made from recycled waste
Making a truly sustainable vehicle sounds like a nearly impossible endeavor, but a team of Dutch students recently gave it a shot, with the result being a rather impressive sporty-looking electric car made almost entirely out of waste. Developed by a team of students from the Eindhoven University Read More...
Sustainable supersonic jets could soon take to the skies
In 1947, the first supersonic jet took to the skies, with American pilot Chuck Yeager becoming the first to break the sound barrier. To make the technology mainstream, the British and French governments joined forces to create the Concorde: the first commercial-sized supersonic jet capable of Read More...