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.
Research on the nutrition of your favorite foods is not what it seems
Our beliefs about how nutritious products are being increasingly shaped by scientific research dreamed up and paid for by major food companies. Borrowing a dirty tactic from the tobacco industry, the food industry has distorted science by paying for research that makes erroneous claims like that Read More...
Waymo can test fully driverless cars on California roads
Get ready to see mysteriously vacant cars roaming around California streets. The state DMV has granted Waymo a permit to test fully driverless vehicles (not even an observer) on public roads, making it the first company in the state to receive Read More...
A solar cell that does double duty for renewable energy
In the quest for abundant, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, scientists have sought to harvest the sun's energy through "water splitting," an artificial photosynthesis technique that uses sunlight to generate hydrogen fuel from water. But water-splitting devices have yet to live up to their Read More...
Company in Spain turns sewage into zero-carbon fuel
A Spanish company, Ingelia, has managed to develop biochar from organic waste, such as sewage and compost, that could potentially become a sustainable alternative to standard coal used in energy production. Despite having the same potential energy production as standard coal, this newfound fuel has Read More...
A powerful new battery could give us electric planes that don’t pollute
Brightly colored molecular models line two walls of Yet-Ming Chiang’s office at MIT. Chiang, a materials science professor and serial battery entrepreneur, has spent much of his career studying how slightly different arrangements of those sticks and spheres add up to radically different outcomes Read More...
New material could make concentrated solar farms 20 percent more efficient
The concentrated solar power industry may soon welcome a new material it can use to allow greater efficiency and affordability when it comes to harnessing the sun’s energy. The composite falls under a category of materials called “cermets”, known for their capacity to withstand high Read More...
Diesel scandal settlement: Volkswagen builds EV charging network in US
Volkswagen will build a nationwide network of charging points for EVs as a part of their diesel emissions lawsuit settlement. Although punishment rather than goodwill is the company’s reason for doing this, VW will invest $2 billion over the next ten years to develop a web of fast chargers Read More...
1.8 million clean energy workers employed in top 50 American metro areas
According to a report from E2, 1.8 million American clean energy jobs are located in the top 50 metro areas. They represent 58% of America’s total 3.2 million clean energy jobs. Every one of the top 50 metro areas employs over 10,000 clean energy workers. Michael Timberlake, the Communications Read More...
Uber's clean air program for London targets 100 percent electric cars by 2025
Uber is taking on air pollution in London with an unconventional solution for a private company that would see all vehicles used in the app go electric by 2025. Uber is adding a ‘clean air fee’ to all routes in London that will be used to support Uber drivers across London to upgrade to an Read More...
Politicians in Puerto Rico want to shift to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050
The Puerto Rico House and Senate are considering a bill that would transition the island to 100 percent renewable energy. After the island suffered the longest blackout in US history, Puerto Rico wants to ensure that never happens again by installing solar and wind energy systems across the Read More...