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.
Scientists unveil new method that turns used plastic bags into batteries
Plastic bag pollution has become a major environmental challenge, pushing cities and countries around the world to heavily tax or ban the sacks. But what if discarded plastic bags could be made into higher-value products? Recently, researchers have come up with a new method of converting plastic Read More...
Innovative material uses sunlight to purify drinking water
Considering that more than 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, innovative solutions to the global water crisis are at an all-time premium. With that in mind, a team of researchers has recently developed a “green” material that uses sunlight to purify enough daily Read More...
These artificial leaves pull carbon dioxide out of thin air to create fuel
Researchers have designed artificial leaves that suck carbon dioxide out of the air and create oxygen. Well isn’t that what leaves already do, you might be asking? Yes, but where these artificial leaves differ is that they can trap carbon dioxide and turn it into carbon monoxide, which can then Read More...
EV wireless charging could become a reality sooner than you think
Electric vehicles have several advantages over vehicles with diesel or petrol-driven motors, but having to plug them in every day isn’t one of them. The good news is that soon EV drivers might not need to worry about that as companies are working on making wireless charging a reality. WiTricity, Read More...
Study: Electric cars are cheaper to own and run than gas-powered cars
If you’ve been looking to buy a new car as of late, you may have noticed that electric cars at the dealership are a tad more expensive than gas-powered cars. That, however, is only the upfront cost and has nothing to do with how much the car will cost you in the years following your purchase. If Read More...
New discovery could lead to medicine that enables the brain to heal itself
Most cells in the body can patch up damage by dividing to create new versions of themselves. But the neurons in our brain lack this ability, so once they're damaged through illness or injury, there's not much that can be done. Worse still, in an overzealous attempt to protect the injured site, Read More...
Los Angeles abandons plan to spend billions of dollars to rebuild gas plants
Los Angeles is making steady efforts in its swift energy transition from fossil fuels to more climate-friendly energy sources. With coal almost out of the picture, the city is now ready to part ways with natural gas too. In a move to get the city closer to its goal of 100 percent renewable energy Read More...
These scientists are turning a common type of plastic waste into clean fuels
While many people like to think that recycling is the antidote to our plastic problems, the reality is that most plastic waste doesn’t get recycled. On top of that, plastics that are recycled can only be recycled a couple times before the material is rendered useless and becomes waste. Read More...
Australian court rejects construction of coal mine over climate concerns
Australia has been one of the slowest nations when it comes to ditching coal, but now it seems they're getting with the program. Recently, a landmark ruling rejected the construction of a coal mine because of its potential impact on the environment. The ruling represents the first time a new coal Read More...
How origami inspired designers to create blinds that generate solar energy
If you’ve been following the Optimist Daily for the past couple years, you’ll know that many companies are trying to design windows that can harvest energy from sunlight. The problem is often these solar windows are inefficient and block sunlight from getting through, darkening rooms in the Read More...