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.
Carmaker Renault to introduce an affordable electric car in the next two years
Apart from perceived range anxiety, another factor influencing the decision of many people to avoid buying an electric car is the cost barrier. Now, French car manufacturer Renault has officially confirmed that in the next two years it plans to introduce the cheapest electric car in Europe under Read More...
Scientists use wasp nests to date ancient Australian rock paintings
Gwion style rock paintings in the Kimberley region of Australia are twice as old as the Giza pyramids, but until recently, scientists had a hard time telling exactly how old they were. Now, they are able to date the paintings to 12,000 years ago with the help of an unlikely ally: wasps. Using Read More...
The UK is acquiring the world’s fastest weather supercomputer
Weather forecasts could soon see a sharp increase in accuracy after the UK’s weather service, the Met Office, announced it will spend £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) to acquire the world's most powerful climate supercomputer. The Met said the computer will create a "digital twin" of our atmosphere Read More...
MRI imaging method could lead to new way to detect early-stage cancer
A new method of detecting early-stage cancer is getting the green light from the FDA, meaning human trials will commence in the coming two years. The new imaging method was intended for detecting metastatic cancer in the liver, but the researchers say it could be applied to a number of other types Read More...
The largest oil refinery on the East Coast is closing for good
It’s official! On Thursday, a federal judge finally confirmed the Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan of Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES), the company that ran the benzene-polluting mega refinery that closed after bursting into flames last June. The plan includes the sale of PES’s 1,300-acre Read More...
Changing the altitude of some aircraft could reduce the climate impact of flying
Greener fuels, electric engines, and more efficient aircraft are all being touted as ways to reduce the environmental harm of flying, but a new study suggests one simple move could help existing flights drastically cut their impact. Getting planes to fly just a couple of thousand feet higher or Read More...
New speedy 3D printing could have major impact in medical world
While 3D printing has come a long way, it still takes a relatively long time for anything to be printed. That’s because the printers work by creating something from the bottom up, layer by layer. But that could soon change after researchers from Switzerland's Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Read More...
How Vienna is using culture to go car-free
Last year, we wrote about a new transit app being used in Miami called Velocia, which rewards commuters for ditching the car in favor of taking public transit, biking, or simply walking. It was an exciting piece for us to share with you because it represented a novel approach to motivating people Read More...
Smart walking cane helps the blind navigate the world more easily
Today, there are an estimated 10 million Americans who are either blind or visually impaired. The number worldwide stands at 250 million people. Most of them still use the standard white cane to assist their mobility needs, but this tool has remained unchanged for nearly 100 years and can sometimes Read More...
NASA and ESA launch Solar Orbiter to learn more about the sun’s poles
At 11:03 pm on February 9, the Solar Orbiter was launched from the Atlas Ⅴ to study the sun’s poles. Launched by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), the Solar Orbiter will make its first close pass to the Sun in two years on its mission to collect information on solar science and make Read More...