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.
HomeBiogas allows you to generate fuel from your home food scraps
What if plant and food scraps from your home could be used to power your stove? This is the general concept behind biogas, a concept that is being rapidly revolutionized as the world’s demand for clean, renewable energy sources surges. HomeBiogas, an Israeli company, has announced the development Read More...
How silicon from old solar panels could power the next generation of batteries
Solar energy is an effective source of renewable energy, and falling costs due to increased availability of technology and subsidies have made it cheaper than ever. But this power source is not without its drawbacks, especially when you consider the number of resources used to make solar panels. Read More...
This chatbot helps refugees navigate the legal path to resettlement
For a Syrian refugee in Lebanon who is trying to navigate the legal path to resettlement, it can be difficult to find answers—and overstretched humanitarian organizations can take as long as three months to respond to an email when the demand for help is highest. A new chatbot called Mona, Read More...
Google to donate 100,000 smart speakers to people with paralysis
While smart speakers have made a lot of people’s homes more comfortable, for people with disabilities these state-of-the-art gadgets can be life-changing. The hands-free, intuitive nature of this technology allows people to control light switches, thermostats, locks and more with just their Read More...
There's a lot of buzz surrounding Internet of Things technology
Using Internet of Things (IoT) technology can help us better understand the health of bee hives in order to cater to the needs of bees more effectively. These days, IoT technology can allow us to monitor beehives with remote sensors as a way of keeping beekeepers updated on the status of the bees. Read More...
The tech from self-driving cars could help prevent wildfires in the future
Last year, California had its most destructive and deadliest wildfire year on record. Increasingly dry, warm, and windy weather conditions wrought by climate change are a big reason why. But the immediate cause is often power lines: Downed lines that come into contact with nearby trees can create Read More...
Google is predicting wind patterns a day in advance so grids can rely on it more
Wind power has become increasingly popular, but its success is limited by the fact that wind comes and goes as it pleases, making it hard for power grids to count on the renewable energy and less likely to fully embrace it. While we can't control the wind, Google has an idea for the next best Read More...
Mexico’s 3D-printed neighborhood for impoverished families is coming to life
On May 13th of this year, the top story of the Optimist Daily was about a nonprofit called New Story that had plans to build the world’s first 3D-printed neighborhood for poor people in Latin America. Well, we’re excited to tell you that the first homes of this neighborhood have been Read More...
This building produces twice the electricity it uses
There are sustainable buildings, and then there is the Powerhouse Brattørkaia—a new building from Norwegian architecture studio Snøhetta. The building, which is located in Trondheim, Norway, produces more than twice the electricity it requires each day. That makes it the world’s northernmost Read More...
How virtual reality is helping patients conquer their fears
Technology has reached a point where it feels as if we are truly living in the future. A testament to that is the fact that virtual reality is on-track to receiving FDA approval for the treatment of a variety of anxiety disorders. Virtual reality is being used as a tool for exposure therapy, an Read More...