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.
Scientists have discovered 4 new species of walking shark
Scientists have identified four new species of walking shark in the waters off Australia and New Guinea. While that might sound like the stuff of horror films, researchers say that the foot-long fish, which have evolved to use their fins to walk on land or in shallow water, are actually adorable. Read More...
Scientists have developed a way to give old EV batteries a ‘second life’
Typically when an EV battery reaches the end of its life-span, the manufacturer takes it back and recycles them. But according to researchers at the University of Warwick, many automotive Lithium-ion batteries have enough life left in them after a car is scrapped for “second-life” uses. To do Read More...
Amsterdam has a clever solution for reducing plastic in its canals: air bubbles
The canals which intersect Amsterdam are a famous addition to the city, but they also collect a lot of trash. When it comes to keeping these waterways clean, one solution is incredibly simple: air bubbles. Westerdok canal in Amsterdam is piloting new technology dubbed the Great Bubble Barrier. Read More...
Google just published the largest ever high-res map of brain connectivity
For all the incredible discoveries that humans have made about our world, we still know relatively little about the way brains work. But thanks to new digital technologies, we’re getting closer to understanding how the brain really functions. In that light, Google made a big announcement this Read More...
This solar farm is providing a habitat for desert tortoises to thrive in
Solar farms aren’t only good for generating clean energy. In the desert in Nevada, a solar farm is providing tortoises a habitat they can thrive in. Juvenile tortoises depend on plant cover to hide from predators, and fortunately for them, the shade below the solar panels allows many plants that Read More...
New molecule can harness over 50% more solar energy than current solar cells
For the first time ever, scientists have managed to develop a single molecule that can absorb energy from the entire visible spectrum of light, meaning it can harness over 50 percent more solar energy than conventional solar cells. That also means it can catalyze that energy into hydrogen. Read More...
New discovery could pave the way to ‘one-size-fits-all’ cancer treatment
Scientists at Cardiff University have made a huge discovery that could completely change the way cancers are treated. Basically, the scientists were looking for "unconventional" and previously undiscovered ways the immune system naturally attacks tumors. What they found was a T-cell inside Read More...
Could your fitness tracker predict flu outbreaks? New research says yes.
Modern day fitness trackers, popularized by FitBit and AppleWatch, can track workouts, sleep habits, heart rate, and even calories burned during a workout. Now, researchers are saying they could even be used to predict flu outbreaks. A new study published in the Lancet looked at data from Read More...
This Canadian didn’t want to fly from Germany to Canada—so he took a cargo ship
When Will Vibert’s European work visa was closing in on its expiration date, the Canadian was reluctant to travel back to Vancouver via plane. Vibert had been confronted by the flight shaming campaigns that had shone a harsh light on the climate impact of air travel, and like so many of his Read More...
Lebron James and Lyft team up to give thousands of teens free bikeshare access
Growing up in Akron, Ohio, LeBron James relied on a bike to get to basketball practice and school and visit friends. Today, recognizing that access to a bike helped change his life, his company, Uninterrupted, is partnering with Lyft to give thousands of teenagers free one-year memberships to Read More...