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.
Algae could light up our cities at night
Proper lighting at night is important for safety in cities and along highways, but all of those lamps require a lot of electricity to keep them going all night. Many places have transitioned to LED lighting, the most energy efficient lighting currently available, to cut down on the energy use of Read More...
India added more energy capacity from renewables than coal last year
For the first time ever, India has added more production capacity from renewable energy in a year than from conventional sources like Read More...
Costa Rica plans to remove fossil fuels from transportation by 2021
When Costa Rica turns 200 years old in 2021, no mode of transportation in the central American country will be powered by gas or diesel. Or at least, that’s if all goes to plan. Costa Rica is well known for its environmental commitment, but the incoming president Carlos Alvarado is adamant that Read More...
Cheap hydrogen fuel may soon arrive after new discovery
Ammonia, a hydrogen-rich molecule, has recently surfaced as a source of the molecular hydrogen needed to generate electricity. Now, researchers have figured out how to extract that fuel and generate power without creating the usual pollutants that come from using ammonia. What's more, the cost of Read More...
FedEx Express delivers the goods with fuel cell-powered truck
FedEx Express is currently operating the first fuel cell electric delivery van for on-road use in North America. The zero emission van is a collaboration between Workhorse Group and Plug Power and is based on Workhorse's electric delivery van, using Plug Power's hydrogen fuel cell to Read More...
New semiconductor material could spark unlimited renewable hydrogen production
Researchers have created a semiconductor material that could pave the way to limitless hydrogen fuel. Using solar power to split water and produce hydrogen fuel is one of the most promising clean energy technologies being pursued, but so far it’s been held back by the lack of a stable Read More...
How to assess new solar technologies
Which is a better deal: an established, off-the-shelf type of solar panel or a cutting-edge type that delivers more power for a given area but costs more? It turns out that’s far from a simple question, but a team of researchers at MIT and elsewhere has come up with a way to figure out the best Read More...
Electric busses can solve some of America’s biggest transportation problems
Personal vehicles are probably the most challenging vehicles to electrify cost-effectively. (Dragging one or two passengers around over long distances in a 2-ton vehicles takes a lot of energy.) Electric busses, on the other hand, are the ideal candidates for electrification as they can transport Read More...
The last Indian village without electricity now has power
In a big step towards nation building, the Indian government has claimed that the last Indian village which had not been electrified was brought in the national power grid on Read More...
No coal, no problem: The UK grid just went coal-free for three days straight
Coal is losing its grip in the UK. For more than three days in a row this past week, no electricity was generated from coal power—the longest streak since the 1880s. The new record comes just days after the UK grid recorded its first two-day period without using any power from the fossil fuel, Read More...