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.
Sleeper trains in Europe are making a comeback due to Covid-19
For all their promise of romance and adventure, Europe’s sleeper trains appeared to have reached the end of the line. Pressured by high operation costs and forsaken by travelers for budget airlines, a decision by the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn to terminate the service connecting Paris to Read More...
Here's the best place on earth for a telescope, according to astronomers
Summer is the season for stargazing. Whether you’re just laying out on a picnic blanket in your backyard or have invested in a high-tech telescope, the twinkling vastness of space above can captivate our attention for hours. Now, astronomers have identified the most ideal place on earth for a Read More...
Deutsche Bank joins list of banks in banning Arctic drilling
The world could use some good news about the Arctic after weeks of battling a prolonged heatwave and wildfires. Fortunately, we have some good news: Financial giant Deutsche Bank has introduced a new energy policy banning financial support of drilling in the Arctic. The move comes after years of Read More...
Archaeologists solve big piece of the Stonehenge puzzle
Back in the 1950s, a chunk of rock went missing from the magical tumble of megaliths that now compose Stonehenge. The chunk, a three-and-a-half foot cylindrical core, had been drilled out of one of the site’s massive sarsen stones during repairs and taken home by an employee of the Read More...
Two new innovations allow solar cells to harness more light
Solar cells work by absorbing light waves, harnessing the photons' energy to knock electrons off of atoms, thereby generating electricity. Here's the thing, though: different light waves have different levels of energy, and current solar cells can't use low-frequency wavelengths of Read More...
Why digital agriculture investments are critical in Africa
Although Africa has registered only three percent of the world’s COVID-19 cases, the continent is feeling the economic impacts of the pandemic more heavily than those of the disease. Investment in digital resources, especially in the agricultural sector, will be key for Africa’s recovery from Read More...
Britain’s biggest pension fund will now divest from fossil fuels
If we want to foster the transition from fossil fuels to renewables, then we’re going to need major financial institutions to shun companies that profit off the extraction or production of these dirty fuels. In that vein, climate campaigners will be pleased to know that the UK’s biggest pension Read More...
Could excess pine needles help solve water pollution in India?
For a couple of decades already, India has been troubled by two particular environmental problems: the risk of fire in the pine forests cloaking the foothills of the Himalaya, and pollution by heavy metals, particularly lead, of some of the country’s water supply. A team of scientists in Delhi Read More...
Engineers create “no touch” touchscreen to reduce distracted drivers
More and more passenger cars have touchscreen technology to control entertainment, navigation, or temperature control systems. The problem is that users can often miss the correct item—for example, due to acceleration or vibrations from road conditions—and have to reselect, meaning that their Read More...
Clinical study finds CBD can help treat cannabis addiction
Although cannabis is not necessarily thought of as an addictive substance, some people still develop problematic consumption habits and struggle when trying to kick the habit. Looking for a way to reduce problematic cannabis consumption, researchers conducted the world’s first clinical trial to Read More...