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.
Fertilizer relies on fossil fuels. This company could change that
Fertilizer has had a major impact in avoiding the oft-trotted out — and Thanos-like — trope that population will outstrip food supplies, a dire prediction that has not come to be. According to Our World In Data, nitrogen-based fertilizer may be supporting up to half of the world’s current Read More...
California introduces historic law requiring all trucks to go green by 2045
Despite only making up 7 percent of vehicles on the road in California, diesel trucks account for 70 percent of the state’s smog-causing pollution and 80 percent of diesel soot emitted. In a move that’s expected to shake the auto industry, the Golden State recently enacted one of the Read More...
Scientists could soon use hydrogel to replace busted knee cartilage
Scientists have created a new experimental gel that can match the strength and durability of knee cartilage. The material may look like a distant cousin of Jell-O—which it is—but it’s incredibly strong. It’s 60% water, but a single quarter-sized disc can bear the weight of a 100-pound Read More...
EV community can now travel cross-country without fear of an empty battery
A huge factor in the adoption of electric vehicles is the problem of not being able to travel long distances, or worse getting stuck on the road with an empty battery, with no charging station nearby. To relieve EV owners of such concerns and worries, a Volkswagen subsidiary called Electrify Read More...
Mary W. Jackson: NASA renames its HQ after first Black female engineer
In Margot Lee Shetterly’s 2016 book Hidden Figures, the author celebrates the pioneering work of Mary W. Jackson, the first Black female engineer at NASA. Now, in tribute to the incredible mathematician, NASA has announced it will rename its Washington DC headquarters after Jackson. “We are Read More...
A hybrid hydrogen/electric aircraft just took flight in the UK
Humanity has taken another step towards zero-emissions aviation after the first-ever flight of a commercial-scale electric-powered aircraft in the UK took place this week. The plane was the startup ZeroAvia’s HyFlyer aircraft, which uses a hybrid hydrogen/electric powertrain to take off. With Read More...
Experts remind the public that reusables are safe to use during COVID-19
As a response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many states and countries have reversed the course of their efforts to reduce the ubiquity of single-use plastic. Some cafes have stopped offering drinks in reusable cups, while the plastic industry has also been busy promoting throwaway plastics by Read More...
New data shows tech companies are getting better at stopping hate speech
While social media platforms provide a great medium for us to connect with people, they have also been used as a medium for people to spread hate speech. Fortunately, tech companies are getting much better at managing hate speech, according to the European Commission (EC). The findings come as Read More...
New data is rapidly improving our understanding of the Arctic’s permafrost
The Arctic covers about 20 percent of the planet, but we know very little about its soil, specifically its permafrost. This layer holds vast amounts of carbon, and thanks to researchers from the University of Texas, Austin, we now have a much more complete dataset on Arctic soil Read More...
American honeybees are bouncing back after a bad year
When it comes to beekeeping, the number of winter deaths within a bee colony is a crucial indicator of the colony’s health. Colonies will always see a percentage of the population wiped out by colder temperatures and less abundant flowers, but what’s most important in this case is how many Read More...