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.
NYC approves law that targets its biggest source of CO2 emissions: buildings
Since the building and construction sector is responsible for around 30 percent of global energy consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions that come with it, decarbonizing our buildings is an essential step for curbing climate change. On Thursday, the city of New York demonstrated that it’s Read More...
Powering the world through wave energy could soon become a reality
Generating energy from waves has long been somewhat of a pipe dream, but that could all change soon as Hawaii gets set to test a massive new energy generating device. The device comes from an Ireland-based company by the name of Ocean Energy, and its CEO believes that wave energy could supply 10 Read More...
Scientists produced a human heart using a 3D printer and a patient’s own cells
While the number of people in need of a heart transplant is high, the number of available hearts for transplants are low. That’s a problem, one that researchers at Tel Aviv University believe they can fix via 3D printing. Recently, the researchers managed to successfully print an entire heart, Read More...
Tesla’s new Gigafactory is as high-tech as you might have expected—and more
When it’s fully complete, Tesla’s Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada, will be the largest building in the world, sprawling over 15 million square feet on a plot of land more than three times larger than Central Park. The building, which Elon Musk has called “the machine that builds the machine,” Read More...
Scientists come up with device that generates electricity from snowfall
These days it seems scientists are finding ways to produce energy out of just about anything, from sunlight and wind to waves and cow manure. Generating electricity from falling snow can now be added to that list after scientists at UCLA developed a small device that does just that. Apparently, Read More...
Community solar projects are finally including low-income households
Although community solar projects are on the rise in America, there’s one major flaw: less than half of US community solar projects have any participation from low-income households, and of the projects that do include lower-earning families, only about 5 percent involved a sizable share above 10 Read More...
Washington state commits to running entirely on carbon-free energy by 2045
What do Hawaii, California, New Mexico, and now Washington have in common? All four have made commitments to 100 percent clean energy. Last week, Washington’s state legislature officially passed one of the most ambitious clean energy bills in the nation. Washington is now committed to making the Read More...
Scientists are feeding excess clean energy to microbes to produce bioplastics
We all know that petroleum-based plastics are destroying our planet, but what we don’t always realize is that not all plastics that are called biodegradable are benefiting the planet. For instance, it can cost a whole lot of money and energy to produce plastics that are called Read More...
Germany fancies turning coal plants into giant batteries that store clean energy
As clean energy continues to rise in Germany, the country’s massive coal plants are becoming increasingly idle. But instead of letting those coal plants sit there and rot, Germany wants to refashion the plants as giant batteries for storing wind and solar power. Germany aims to phase out coal Read More...
Scientists are looking to the “immortal” jellyfish for cure to brain disease
Off the coast of Japan, Panama, Italy, Spain, and Florida, it is possible to find a special species of jellyfish the size of your pinky nail… if you look closely. The species is known as Turritopsis dohrnii, and scientists who have studied it closely believe it can live forever. How? In a process Read More...