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.
Taking driverless taxis will cost half as much as owning a car in the future
According to a financial firm, taking self-driving taxis to get from point A to point B will be half as expensive per mile as owning a car in the future. The firm also estimates that the typical household could save about $5,875 per year by switching to self-driving taxis in the Read More...
Saudi Arabia solar power auction sets new record
The solar industry has witnessed massive drops in energy prices over the past year, but never as low as the price at which Saudi Arabia may start receiving solar energy. This week, the oil-producing country announced that it has received offers from two solar companies to supply power for as little Read More...
The hydrogen fuel cell secret behind GM's big EV announcement
GM sent a ripple across the web on Monday with the attention-grabbing announcement of its “path to zero emissions” plan, which includes an impressive lineup of at least 20 electric vehicles by 2023. To the casual observer, that means a head-on collision with Tesla, but GM adds an interesting Read More...
EasyJet wants to fly electric airplanes in 10 years
Of all the industries that are pushing to become more environmentally friendly, the airline industry has been one of the least active. That may soon change after one of Europe’s largest airlines, EasyJet, announced that it wants to build and operate electric-powered planes within the next decade. Read More...
‘In the next three years 30 percent of Europe’s electricity could be wind powered’
Europe is overhauling its energy infrastructure faster than expected. In two recently released reports, researchers suggest that 30 percent of the electricity consumed in Europe could be generated from the wind by 2030, potentially avoiding the release of 421 tons of CO2 emissions. On top of that, Read More...
Electric car owners 'can drive for free by letting energy firms use battery'
Electric car owners will be paid for letting an energy company use their vehicle’s battery in a pioneering scheme to increase take-up of the cleaner vehicles and help power grids manage the growth in green Read More...
Elon Musk's big battery for South Australia already half complete
When Elon Musk promised South Australia that he could fix their power network by creating the world’s largest battery in 100 days or the service would be delivered for free, many thought he was bluffing. Now it seems the energy guru is set to get paid with construction on the battery already half Read More...
Renewable energy investors see opportunity in Puerto Rico’s demolished gird
There is a silver lining in the destruction that Hurricane Maria left behind on Puerto Rico. While the island’s antiquated electric system lies in ruins, renewable energy investors see a golden opportunity in the crisis to use federal funds to re-invent the US territory’s grid as a Read More...
Autonomous vehicles will completely change your relationship with cars
Vehicles may be faster and more eco-friendly than when they were first invented, but the basic blueprint has remained the same: They’ve always been boxes with four wheels operated by a human steering the wheel. With autonomous vehicles on the horizon, though, we can expect our relationship with Read More...
How smart grid technology could help Puerto Rico
A week after Puerto Rico was struck by Hurricane Maria, nearly all of the U.S. territory’s residents are still without power. It will take years to recover from the disaster, but experts hope Puerto Rico’s future electrical grid will be more resilient in the face of the next powerful storm to Read More...