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.
High schoolers are learning to 3D-print prosthetic hands for people in need
When does a school science project become especially worthy of attention? When it actually makes an impact outside the school. At West Leyden High School, just outside Chicago, some students are part of a science program called e-NABLE that teaches students how to use engineering software and 3D Read More...
Here’s what the hyperloop systems of the future might look like in urban areas
We've seen a lot of technical exploration around how a hyperloop system might one-day fling humans and goods across the Earth at the speed of sound inside low-vacuum tubes but not much about the structural elements that would hold everything in place. That’s why startup HyperloopTT has teamed up Read More...
Motorboats are a disaster for subaquatic eco-systems. This electric boat isn’t.
While motorboats and jet skis look like harmless fun above the waves, under the waves they’re a nightmare for the aquatic beings that live below. And although the pollutants that motors spew into the water are one part of the problem, it’s the loud noise these sea-faring vehicles create that is Read More...
Scientists just discovered the world’s most powerful electric eel in the Amazon
As a testament to the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest, scientists have discovered two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin—with one of them capable of delivering a record-breaking electrical jolt. For centuries, it was believed that a single species existed Read More...
Scientists just 3D-printed a mini human heart using a patient’s cardiac cells
Since there aren’t nearly enough human hearts available for transplant for patients that need them, scientists have been searching for ways to create an artificial heart that is viable for transplant. This week, science took a big step toward making this a reality after Chicago-based biotech Read More...
A pioneering treatment just restored the eyesight of an acid attack victim
20 years ago, James O’Brien endured something horrible: a corrosive acid substance was thrown in his face, leaving him permanently blind in one eye. Or at least, so he thought. For the past 18 months, O’Brien has been undergoing pioneering treatment at London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital. Read More...
Scientists in Germany figured out a way to use calcium to improve our batteries
Today you can find lithium-ion batteries in smartphones, tablets, laptops, electric cars, and nearly all the electronics around you. But while ubiquitous, the lithium battery is facing several challenges. There's the limited physical nature of lithium's output but also the environmental havoc its Read More...
Robotic hand helps biologists study the ocean’s most delicate deep-water dwellers
Throughout his studies, marine biologist Dr. David Gruber was conflicted by the reality that sometimes in order to study organisms, scientists had to harm the specimens they were attempting to understand. Deep in the darkest and most secretive parts of our ocean, harsh conditions and Read More...
The classic VW Beetle gets a green makeover
If you’re a lover of the environment and classic cars, there is good news for you! Volkswagen debuted a new electric version of their classic Beetle at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Featuring the same nostalgia-inducing look of the original Beetle, the new version, which Read More...
Is aging reversible? A new study says maybe it is.
Aging can be measured by more than just the candles on our birthday cake. It can also be measured through chemical changes in our DNA - what scientists call “biomarkers”. But what happens if we alter this process at a cellular level? Can we stop aging in its tracks? In a Benjamin Read More...