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.
Twitter engineer leads movement to replace racially-loaded tech terms
What sort of impacts do words have in our everyday jobs? For Regynald Augustin, a programmer at Twitter, the unquestionable drive to change the terminology used in his day-to-day job was an effort that started back in January. The impetus for change started after he received an email with the Read More...
Could AI help prompt doctors to have difficult discussions about death?
At the Optimist Daily, we’re always on the lookout for solutions—whether they may be for lighter issues like gardening, or for much heavier topics, like how we can best discuss how to prepare for death. Today, we’ll be touching upon the latter. The question of how and when to prepare for Read More...
New research emphasizes the need for electric rideshare vehicles
With versatile options, increasingly reliable batteries, and charging stations popping up everywhere, making the switch to an electric vehicle is easier than ever. New research shows that while switching to an electric vehicle at home is a great option for supporting green energy, making the switch Read More...
The exterior of this electric truck is made of natural materials
While electric vehicles may be the greener option in comparison to their gas-powered relatives, the materials used to produce electric vehicles are by no means green. That, however, could soon start to change thanks to the ambitions of Volta Trucks. The EV manufacturer is creating an all-electric Read More...
Doctors in Rome successfully separate conjoined twins in rare surgery
This week, surgeons in Rome successfully separated two-year-old twins with a rare congenital defect. Twins Ervina and Previna's skulls were fused back-to-back and shared vital blood vessels — a condition that occurs around once in every 2 million births. The 18-hour operation took place at the Read More...
The City of Sydney is now powered by 100% renewable electricity
The City of Sydney, the central borough of the larger Australian metropolis, will now be powered using 100 percent renewable energy, a switch expected to save it $500,000 and 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere over the next 10 years. Two solar farms and one wind farm Read More...
E-waste: The ultimate guide to buying tech that actually lasts
Isn’t it strange that when we buy highly advanced gadgets like a smartphone, we only expect them to last a couple of years? At some point, we feel that we must upgrade. We must have the latest and greatest camera. We must-have apps that run faster. But here’s the thing: This is all the doing Read More...
New photos of world’s rarest great apes with babies raises hopes
The Cross River gorilla is the most endangered subspecies of gorilla, with only 300 of them known to live in the wild. But the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has raised hopes that these animals at risk of extinction are actually reproducing after many photos of the rare gorillas were captured Read More...
Germany passes bill to phase out coal energy
Germany remains one of the most coal-reliant countries in Western Europe, but that’s all set to change after a new bill was passed in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. The bill sets the conditions under which Germany will abandon coal as a power source in order to meet climate Read More...
Scientists find a way to heal badly broken bones with electricity
Healing a broken bone can be a lengthy — and painful — process. One way to speed it up? Add electricity. When bones are placed under pressure, they naturally produce a small electric current that encourages bone cell growth. Doctors have long taken advantage of this fact, using implants to Read More...