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.
Dogs are helping conservationists preserve endangered species
Dogs and their sensitive noses are known for finding people during search and rescue efforts, sniffing out drugs and even diseases like cancer. Something they're lesser known for is their ability to act as a radar for finding endangered animals. To do that, dogs are being trained to identify the Read More...
This 3D-printed device can detect cancer in a patient’s blood sample
The goal of creating personalized cancer treatment just got a big boost after scientists developed a device that weeds out blood cells to find cancer. In a new report, researchers outlined their new method which uses 3D-printed cell traps to separate cancer cells from billions of blood cells in a Read More...
Bristol might soon be the first city in the UK to ban diesel cars
While London has been busy implementing restrictions on gas-powered cars, the city of Bristol wants to take it one step further by banning diesel cars from the city center. That would make it the first UK city to implement such a ban. Under the city council’s proposals, diesel vehicles will be Read More...
New battery design can charge an electric car in just 5 minutes
One of the major barriers to the uptake of electric vehicles is the length of time it takes to charge the battery compared to filling a car with petrol. What might alleviate the issue, though, is a new kind of battery technology developed by scientists at Penn State University, which overcomes Read More...
This yellow blob at the zoo in Paris has scientists scratching their heads
If you go to the Paris Zoological Park, you’ll come across a creature unlike any other. It’s not an animal, but rather, a sort of yellow blob that looks like a living pile of old silly string with a powerful hunger for fungus. As you can imagine, scientists have had a hard time classifying Read More...
Air conditioners could become more sustainable thanks to novel refrigerant
Last year, Americans used a mind-boggling 377 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to stay cool. In layman's terms, that’s about 9 percent of the nation’s total electricity use, spent primarily on air conditioners. Enter Bluon, a startup that makes a new refrigerant for air conditioners, Read More...
Earth’s rocks play a huge role in carbon storage
Next time you walk outside, say a little thank you to the ground beneath your feet. It is storing far more carbon than we previously knew. Carbon is stored in all living beings, but work by the Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) has revealed that 90% of our planet’s carbon is stored underground. Read More...
Japan just unveiled an eco-friendly automobile made of wood
Electric cars have revolutionized the automotive industry in terms of making cars more planet-friendly. But the Japanese Ministry of the Environment decided to take it even a step further by manufacturing a car made from plant-based materials. A project undertaken by the Japanese government in Read More...
Long distance electric buses could change the way we travel
In Europe, everyone knows the sight of the big green Flixbus that takes people on long-distance trips from city to city. In the US, this sight is virtually unknown, but you might start seeing Flixbus operating on the great roadways of America very soon. This past week, a bright green electric bus Read More...
Here’s everything you need to know about the end of daylight savings time
On Sunday, November 3, at 2 am, we’ll turn our clocks back one hour, heralding the end of daylight saving time for much of the country. The biggest consequence: The change shifts daylight back into the morning hours. For 9-to-5 office workers, it means saying goodbye to leaving work while Read More...