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.
What if Canada had spent $200bn on wind energy instead of oil?
In explaining Canada's decision to nationalize the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5bn, Bill Morneau went hard on the economic argument. “Make no mistake,” the finance minister said. “This is an investment in Canada’s future.” In fact, since 1999, more than $200bn has been Read More...
See how algae could change our world
Charles Greene is a climate scientist who looks at the impact of climate on marine ecosystems. He's a Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University and member of the Marine Algae Industrialization Consortium (MAGIC) which has a grant from the Department of Energy to look Read More...
Seasonal window glass directs light and heat
Swiss researchers have developed seasonal window glass that could make certain soft furnishings redundant. Office workers and homeowners no longer have to block their own view in order to keep indoor space cool. Now, during the summer months, treated windows covered in a film containing micro Read More...
We need better energy storage. These billionaires are paying to develop it
The world’s richest people are pouring money into two startups that have developed different techniques for storing energy—one of the biggest bottlenecks in the widespread adoption of renewable-energy. The investors, which include Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, have all invested Read More...
China’s ambition to power the world’s electric cars took a huge leap forward
China’s grand designs to dominate the future of clean energy paid off spectacularly this week. In a public offering on June 11 in Shenzhen, battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) raised nearly $1 billion to fund ambitious expansion plans, and its stock has been shooting up Read More...
Liquid-air energy storage: The latest new “battery” on the UK grid
A first-of-its-kind energy-storage system has been added to the grid in the UK. The 5MW/15MWh system stores energy in an unusual way: it uses excess electricity to cool ambient air down to -196°C (-320°F), where the gases in the air become liquid. That liquid is stored in an insulated, Read More...
These gravity-defying hills are one of the strangest natural phenomena we've seen
Scattered across the world are a number of bewildering 'mystery spots' that appear to defy gravity - places where cars seem to drift uphill, and cyclists struggle to push themselves downhill. Also known as gravity hills, these bizarre natural phenomena can be found in places like Confusion Read More...
Researchers just found the first insect to understand the concept of zero: Bees
While it may seem like all that bees do is buzz around and make honey, research suggests they’re a whole lot smarter than we might think. A new study found that the honeybee understands the quantitative value of nothing, and places zero in the correct position along a line of sequential numbers. Read More...
China is paving their freeways with solar panels
China is the world leader of solar power, producing three-quarters of solar panels sold globally. But China isn’t stopping at solar panels. Now the country is producing solar roads—modified solar panels that are installed in place of asphalt. Generating electricity from highways and streets Read More...
How AI can make data centers more energy efficient
The cloud, the digital destination for all the files you need to store, can have many drawbacks for the environment. Cloud storage centres come with big energy demands due to the massive cooling systems needed to keep them cooled down. Thanks to artificial intelligence, Microsoft’s cloud services Read More...