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.
Here’s what happens when you do brain exercises every day for a year
Brain games are supposed to help boost your cognitive skills, but have you ever taken the time to do them on a daily basis? For the past year, a science journalist did brain exercise every day for a year and tested her results with MRI machines. This is what she got out of Read More...
Psychedelic drugs: An effective form of treatment for mental illness?
While you never expect to see “magic” mushrooms or ayahuasca scribbled on a doctor’s prescription pad, a number of studies are showing that psychedelic drugs can help treat certain mental health conditions. Take a look at this interview to see why we might be on the brink of a revolution in Read More...
Trump’s pro-coal alternative to the Clean Power Plan has been dropped
When it became known that Obama’s Clean Power Plan was set to be replaced by Trump’s Orwellian “Affordable Clean Energy” plan, it was a dark day for environmentalists. Now they can breathe a little sigh of relief after the Trump administration quietly dropped its pro-coal alternative, which Read More...
Ocean energy is on the horizon following successful test on floating turbine
You may not have heard much about ocean energy before, but the European Commission believes it could supply 10 percent of the EU’s power by 2050. That looks ever more likely after a single floating turbine off the coast of Scotland generated 3-gigawatt hours of renewable electricity from the Read More...
This Greek island will be first in the Mediterranean powered only by renewables
The small Greek island of Tilos has long had a costly power system that gets its energy from a diesel power station 42 miles away. Now Tilos has constructed a new system powered entirely by wind and solar, making it the first island in the Mediterranean to power itself entirely with renewable Read More...
Understand the complexity of the brain with these scientific works of art
The beauty of art is that it allows us to gain an understanding of things that may be too difficult to comprehend in scientific terms. In the Netherlands, a neuroscience institute created an art competition that allowed practicing scientists to present their work in creative ways. The work Read More...
20 years in orbit: The best photos ever shot by the International Space Station
Beyond being absolutely vital for some of the most important scientific discoveries of the past two decades, the International Space Station has also proven to be a fantastic platform for photography. As the ISS gets set to celebrate its 20th anniversary, here are some of the best images snapped Read More...
A startup is stacking concrete blocks with cranes in order to store energy
Electrical grids only function when electricity is being generated in the same amounts as it is consumed. About 96 percent of the world’s energy-storage capacity comes in the form of one technology: pumped hydro, which uses water and dams to generate energy on demand. A startup from Switzerland Read More...
Stop driving, start cycling: Why biking is the healthiest way to get around
By making your bike your main mode of transportation in the city, you can benefit yourself and your city greatly. Other than the fact that avoiding the usage of the car reduces emissions, a new study suggests that cycling is also the healthiest way to get around cities. Another study recently found Read More...
How to effectively get people to embrace change
Researchers commonly thought that the best way to get people to embrace change was making that envisioned change seem more appealing than the present situation. But according to new research, successfully convincing someone to embrace change means emphasizing what will remain the same. By placing Read More...