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.
Here’s what it looks like to live off-grid for 77 years
For years, the Optimist Daily has been exploring all the ways that companies and people can live off-grid in this day and age. Meanwhile, a woman by the name of Margaret Gallagher has casually been living off-grid for all of her 77 years. Her 200-year-old thatched cottage in Northern Ireland has Read More...
How old is your pet in terms of human years? The answer is complicated
If you have a pet, you’ve probably heard this one before: one regular year is like seven years for dogs and cats. Well, according to a veterinarian from the Mississippi State University, there’s actually a bit of logic behind this. People observed that with optimal healthcare, Read More...
This giant dump truck runs on electricity and doesn’t require charging
While electric vehicles are quickly proliferating throughout the world, most electric engines are still relegated to smaller vehicles. The serious work, some argue, is still done by gas-guzzling diesel engines. But then there's the Elekto Dumper—the world's largest EV—which flouts the rule that Read More...
Scientists want to bring back the zeppelin to fight climate change
The age of huge, ocean-crossing zeppelins came to an end in 1937, when the Hindenburg - the largest craft of its type ever built - erupted in flames while landing in New Jersey. Now, more than 80 years later, the giant airships may be poised for a comeback - not for passenger service, but as an Read More...
Scientists have found a way to melt microplastics into nothing
Microplastics—tiny fragments of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters across—are so ubiquitous that plastic is now found in drinking water, Arctic snow, and the deepest part of the ocean. As plastic breaks down, the tiny size makes it even harder to remove from water. But scientists are testing Read More...
This scientific breakthrough could save America’s biggest coral reef
Like Australia, the US has its own “Great Barrier Reef”, lying just off the coast of the Florida Keys. It’s the third-largest coral reef in the world, and it’s in serious danger. As the temperature of the oceans continues to rise, the corals are dying off at an unprecedented rate. If Read More...
LiFi in the sky: the future of connectivity
If you have been impressed by the recent addition of WiFi on commercial airlines, you will be even more amazed by LiFi: in-flight wireless signal transmitted not by electromagnetic waves, but light. More specifically, this signal, transmitted via LED lights, features a safer connection and less Read More...
The beautiful duet of science and photography
Photographer Yevhen Samuchenko took this image in the Himalayas in Nepal at Gosaikunda Lake Science and art are often seen as vastly different and even opposing fields. However, their overlap can produce harmonious works of utter brilliance. The Royal Photographic Society has started their Read More...
How magic mushrooms could replace antidepressants within 5 years
While big pharma may have a stranglehold on the market for antidepressants, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris believes mushrooms could break that within the coming five to ten years. Carhart-Harris is one of the UK’s leading researchers on psilocybin mushrooms, and according to a recent study, magic Read More...
Tackling Toxins with Nature’s Super Clean-up Crew: Mushrooms
Aside from being a delicious and nutritious addition to many meals, mushrooms may be the planet’s best and most functional decomposer. In addition to breaking down traditional objects found in nature, mushrooms have also been found to break down chemicals in soil and heavy metals in water. At Read More...