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.
Electric vehicles are now the equivalent of driving an 80 mpg car
There are lots of reasons to buy an electric vehicle these days, starting with their cost. A recent analysis found that running an EV is, on average, 2.3 times cheaper than operating a traditional gas vehicle. There’s always been some concern that, despite the environmental cred not pumping gas Read More...
Glassy polymer is a clear conductor of electricity
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new polymer film that's transparent, looks and feels like glass, and conducts electricity. The material is easy to manufacture on a large scale, should be less expensive than the commonly-used, inorganic indium tin oxide, and is more conductive than Read More...
How Nissan is using old Leaf batteries to power street lights in Japan
If electric cars are to have a positive environmental impact on the world, the batteries of old electric models must not be wasted, but rather, they must be repurposed for other uses. One shining example of this can be found in Naime, Japan—a city that was abandoned after the Fukushima nuclear Read More...
Study: wind and solar can power most of the United States
Wind, solar, and storage could meet 90–100 percent of America’s electricity Read More...
Renewables generated more electricity than brown coal over summer in Australia
Renewable energy generated more electricity than brown coal during Australia’s summer for the first time in 2017-18, according to a new report by Green Energy Read More...
Why offshore wind is ready to boom along the Atlantic coast
A new report released by a Washington DC-based research group found that 12 of the 14 U.S. states along the Atlantic coast have offshore wind potential that exceeds its current electricity needs. These states use more than a quarter of the nation’s energy, and nearly all of that energy comes from Read More...
Home wind power: Yes, in my backyard!
So maybe you’re thinking you want to generate your own electricity, and home wind power has crossed your mind. After all, who really enjoys paying a utility bill? Small wind energy is renewable, non-polluting, and, in the right circumstances, can save you Read More...
Renewables are outcompeting fossil fuels without help from subsidies
The day subsidy-free renewable energy becomes cheaper than fossil fuels will mark the beginning of the end for dirty energy. What we may not realize is that day is closer than we think. According to new research, onshore wind and solar will both be viable without subsidies by 2025 in the UK. Read More...
Inside Airbus’s mad dash to get a robo air taxi off the ground
At a remote test facility in northeast Oregon. an improbable-looking plane takes flight. Its wings are perpendicular to the ground, with their propellers—a whopping eight of them—spinning like the rotors of a helicopter. There is no pilot. The oddball craft, called Vahana, ascends 16 feet above Read More...
Burlington and San Francisco are trailblazing the path to 100 percent renewable
If we are to effectively combat climate change, cities have to make bold moves that will shape the future. Take Burlington, Vermont and San Francisco, California for example. Burlington began its transition to a net-zero economy back in 1978 when it replaced its coal plant with a power station Read More...