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.
Iceland’s capital takes a bold step towards emission-free transportation
While some cities use congestion pricing too low emission zones — like London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone — Iceland’s capital is taking another interesting approach as a city looking to lower emissions going forward. Reykjavík has recently approved a plan to reduce the number of petrol Read More...
For the first time in 150 years, Britain went an entire week without burning coal
The last time Britain went a week without coal was in 1882 when the first coal-fired plant opened in London. Since then, coal has been burned nearly every day to produce electricity for the country, serving as the nation’s main source of energy for a long, long time. But on May 1, nearly 150 Read More...
America is now home to more than two million solar installations—and counting
The US just hit a major milestone when it comes to solar power, according to a new report. As it turns out, there are now more than two million solar installations in the US, enough to power more than 12 million homes. Just three years ago, the number of solar installations stood at one million, Read More...
Germany is on a quest to electrify the Autobahn
In 2016, Sweden debuted the world’s first “electric highway.” Basically, it’s a stretch of highway that has a series of wires hanging overhead that a cargo truck equipped with a pantograph can connect to. When the truck connects to it, the vehicle can deactivate its fuel-burning engine and Read More...
Hydrogen will be powering a new fleet of London’s famous double-decker busses
A new fleet of famous double-decker busses are about to hit the streets of London. Although they may not look much different on the outside, the new busses have one major upgrade: they’re powered by hydrogen. As the capital steps up attempts to tackle its polluted air, London is rolling out 20 Read More...
Scientists have found a way to turn methane into clean fuel using bacteria
Known for their ability to remove methane from the environment and convert it into a usable fuel, methanotrophic bacteria, also known as methanotrophs, have long fascinated researchers. But how, exactly, these bacteria naturally perform such a complex reaction has been a mystery. Now an Read More...
Greta Thunberg has given the no-fly movement a huge push
With her powerful, fearless speeches urging politicians to act on climate change, Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg has become an icon and an inspiration to millions of people throughout the world. But it’s not just her words that are motivating people to become environmentally conscious. It’s Read More...
This utility company has found the best way to help people save energy and money
In rural North Carolina, energy bills eat up a massive chunk of a household’s monthly budget—not because the energy rates are especially high, but because the home themselves aren’t built efficiently. Drafty windows, leaky ducts and poor insulation are common, and that means that much of the Read More...
Amsterdam to ban diesel and gas-powered cars and motorbikes by 2030
As the world gets hotter and more crowded, we don't need our transportation to continue pumping dirty emissions into the air we breathe. The World Health Association lists air pollution as one of the most threatening global public health issues and estimates that 90 percent of the world’s Read More...
Renewables are set to start outpacing coal power this month
It’s becoming a familiar sight across America: coal-fired smokestacks looming over towns and cities that no longer produce any smoke, a testament to the clean energy revolution currently taking place. Coal, long the king of the power sector, has already been dethroned by natural gas, a much Read More...