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.
An algorithm is helping doctors decide whether to let coma patients keep living
It’s notoriously difficult to determine whether a person who has fallen into a coma will ever wake up. That’s why researchers in Beijing are developing a tool that uses an algorithm to find out what the future state will be of someone in a coma. Thus far, the researchers say the algorithm has Read More...
Researchers are restoring marine habitats using 3D printing coral reefs
Marine researchers are installing 3D-printed coral reefs to help restore habitats that are damaged as more coral reefs die. 3D printing artificial reef structures may sound like a gimmick, but research suggests it can help provide shelter to crustaceans, sponges, and anemones to form a marine Read More...
Fuel from thin air: the catch to a startup's sunny claims
Over the past few years, a number of scientists have made the seemingly outrageous claim that they could make fuel from thin air. The most recent announcement comes from Cornell University startup Dimensional Read More...
Making roads using solar panels may not be such a good idea after all
Placing solar panels beneath roads has become a popular idea over the last few years, with countries like China, France, and the US all developing so-called solar roads. But is it actually as good of an idea it sounds? The results say the costs of installing solar roads outweigh the Read More...
Flying cars may work best when tethered to power lines
Flying cars always work perfectly in the movies. But now that we’re close to actually building some, we’re finding they come with all sorts of Read More...
The view from an asteroid 280 million kilometers from Earth is incredible
It sounds like something out of a sci-fi film, but the space agency of Japan successfully landed two small rovers on an asteroid some 280 million kilometers away from earth. If you’re curious to see what the view is like from an asteroid, you have to check out these Read More...
New battery gobbles up carbon dioxide
A new type of battery developed by researchers at MIT could be made partly from carbon dioxide captured from power plants. Rather than attempting to convert carbon dioxide into specialized chemicals using metal catalysts, which is currently highly challenging, this battery could continuously Read More...
Solar power showed off its resiliency during Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence, the wettest tropical cyclone on record, left a trail of destruction within the Carolinas. This is obviously terrible news, but there is one positive we can take from this: most rooftop solar panel systems stayed intact and kept producing power after the storm, signifying that Read More...
Could hydrogen power be the answer for rural schools in Africa?
Like many schools in rural South Africa, Poelano Secondary School was often without electricity. Now the school has much needed access to electricity thanks to a fuel cell that converts water into hydrogen power. As more rural schools in Africa look for sustainable ways to generate power, hydrogen Read More...
Rap artists’ new love for Teslas is a good thing for the planet
Whether you like or not, celebrities can have a major influence on what the public takes a liking to. That’s why it’s good news that famous hip-hop artists like Kanye West are buying and bringing publicity to Teslas. Hip-hop artists have long been impressed by Ferraris, Benzes, and other Read More...