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.
Wind, solar deliver 98 percent of new US power capacity in January, February
Solar and wind power was responsible for a remarkable 98 percent of all new U.S. power generation capacity that came online in the first two months of 2018. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) latest “Energy Infrastructure Update,” the overwhelming majority of new Read More...
The solar market could expand six-fold after this discovery
Although residential solar is booming in the US, there’s a massive market that remains untouched: low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. Solar projects have traditionally been installed on the rooftops of wealthier single-households while companies ignored LMI households. However, according to Read More...
There may soon be a “pill” that men can take as a contraceptive
Researchers have developed a new compound that slows down sperm to the point where they can no longer swim, potentially paving the way for a male contraceptive that doesn’t affect natural hormones and is reversible. Although the “Pill” has been an option for women for decades, scientists have Read More...
Electrify America to install ultra-fast chargers at 100+ Walmart stores
Let's hope they are near the highways. By the end of next year, Porsche will have installed 500 fast charging stations at its dealerships and convenient highway locations all across America. But they aren't the only ones stepping up in terms of electric vehicle charging Read More...
Lockheed says 'flow' battery will boost use of renewable power
Lockheed Martin Corp hopes to launch a new “flow” battery made of inexpensive, nontoxic materials that can help utilities save money and use more renewable energy, company officials Read More...
Elon Musk shares stunning video of night sky above world’s largest battery
Tesla’s South Australia battery project is turning heads. CEO Elon Musk shared a time-lapse animation on Sunday of the Powerpack project under a starry night sky. The 100-megawatt installation in Hornsdale, providing enough power for 30,000 homes, has surprised commentators with its speedy Read More...
Nest is giving smart thermostats to low-income families to lower utility bills
The average American household spends 3.5 percent of their income on energy bills. But one in five families spend over 20 percent of their income on heating and cooling their homes. That’s why Nest is launching a new initiative to get its smart thermostats into the hands of lower income Read More...
The largest brewery in the world is now making beer with low-carbon bubbles
Typically, the bubbles in beer are created during the boiling process, which requires a great deal of heat and water. To make the process a bit less energy-intensive, the world’s largest beer brewing company, AB Inbev, has created a new low-carbon method for adding bubbles to beer. The technique Read More...
The U.K. just went 55 hours without using coal for the first time in history
Coal, which fueled the world’s biggest economies for more than a century, is increasingly losing out to renewables. The latest example of how one of the dirtiest fossil fuels is being squeezed out of the market came this week in Britain, which went for a record 55 hours without any of its power Read More...
The cost of electric busses is plummeting—thanks to China
China’s wild binge of solar manufacturing drove down the costs of solar panels, both by oversupplying the market and by hastening economies of scale. In effect, the country voluntarily took on the costs of pushing solar panels onto the “S-curve” of rapid growth, a strategy that will greatly Read More...