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.
A Simple Solution: Concrete Blocks to Store Energy
Investment at the highest levels is taking a new approach to investing in energy storage, showing an understanding of the importance of energy storage investment and in the security of the electricity grid. SoftBank, a multinational conglomerate company, has invested $110 million in a relative Read More...
New research suggests you can ‘reprogram’ your tastebuds to like vegetables
Even if you’ve tried a certain food a few times and didn’t find it tasty, that doesn’t mean you’ll never learn to enjoy that food. In fact, according to new research, repeated exposure to bitter foods can change the proteins in your saliva, essentially calming the initial distaste for Read More...
Salmon populations are bouncing back in Washington—thanks to beavers
Beavers are known to settle in freshwater lakes and rivers, so a tidally salty wetland might seem like a strange place to search for beavers. But in Washington, beavers have made their home at the salty Elwha delta which was only recently reformed after two dams in the area were removed in the Read More...
The sad truth about those “eco-friendly” e-scooters you see everywhere
If you live in a big city, chances are you’ve seen scores of electric scooters take over the sidewalks. Rideshare companies promote them as a greener alternative to cars that residents can use to get around—a claim that is rather easy to assume as true. After all, these e-scooters don’t spew Read More...
Commuters in Rome can now pay for metro rides with used plastic bottles
You may not be so motivated to pick up littered plastic bottles when you walk around the city, but if those plastic bottles paid for your ride on the metro, you might be more inclined to collect those bottles. That’s the idea behind a new scheme in Rome where residents can deposit plastic bottles Read More...
Solar power generation now cheaper than grid electricity across China
25 years ago China had no solar panels whatsoever, and some experts thought it would take decades before the costs of solar generation would be the same as electricity from the grid. Now the country is leading the global renewable transition. Recently, thanks to a combination of technological Read More...
Scientists have created a “spray-on bandage” using the body’s own bacteria
If you get a cut on your skin, you stick a band-aid on it. But what if you get a wound in your gut? When doctors treat injuries to the intestines, they can't use patches or bandages, because these materials don't stick to the slippery intestinal walls. Now, a team from Harvard University has come Read More...
A new study finds EVs hold the key to decarbonization in America
Just how big a role are EVs going to play in decarbonization? Although there are varying opinions on the matter, Community Energy (a renewable energy project developer) has developed models of both the financial and carbon impacts of large-scale vehicle electrification in Colorado. From these Read More...
Start Monday off with this hilarious video of ducks holding up traffic in Maine
While the state of Maine is known for a lot of things, traffic is definitely not one of them. But recently, a long line of traffic built up in the town of Biddeford for a very curious reason: a seemingly never-ending queue of ducks were making they’re way across the road in a single-file line. Read More...
Coal generation collapsed in Europe over the first six months of 2019
Sometimes when you fall, you fall really hard. That’s how it’s going for coal at the moment, the former king when it came to energy production. According to a new report from climate think-tank Sandbag, coal generation in the European Union collapsed by 19 percent in the first half of 2019, Read More...