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.
The future of transportation may be about sharing batteries, not vehicles
In the future, some transportation experts say, vehicles will no longer be individually owned. They envision a world of “fractional” ownership, in which autonomously driven taxis, operated by government or private entities, shuffle commuters around based on algorithmically optimized Read More...
Energy storage systems will provide a major boost to rooftop solar
For solar systems to truly be cost-effective for homeowners, having an energy storage system is key. Storage systems like the Tesla Powerwall allow homeowners to save any surplus of solar energy and use it at a later time like at night. As home storage systems continue to become more economical, Read More...
Dutch Royal Shell plans to build first ‘no-petrol’ station in London next year
As a part of its drive towards clean motoring, oil-giant Shell has announced it will open a “no-petrol” service station in central London next year. The station will offer motorists biofuels, electric vehicle charge points and hydrogen fuel pumps instead of traditional petrol and diesel pumps. Read More...
Solar energy just cleared a pricing target set for 2020
In Brief In 2011, the Department of Energy set a target of bringing the cost of solar energy down to six cents per kilowatt-hour by 2020, It's now been confirmed that goal has already been accomplished. The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that utility-grade solar panels have now reached Read More...
The entrepreneurs turning carbon dioxide into fuels
In an industrial greenhouse about 30km from Zurich, plump aubergines and juicy cherry tomatoes are ripening to perfection. Growing Mediterranean crops in Switzerland would traditionally be energy intensive but these vegetables are very nearly Read More...
This stretchable solar cell can go through wash cycles and still work
Researchers have developed an ultra-thin solar cell that is both efficient and water-resistant. The flexible solar cell can be bent, stretched and thrown in the wash and still function perfectly well. The new technology could pave the way for wearable photovoltaics that can be embedded in clothing Read More...
Quiet energy revolution underway in Japan as dozens of towns go off the grid
After the earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan in 2011, cities in the north of the country had to completely redo their energy systems. But rather than rejoining with the country’s old utility model, the cities have shifted towards a decentralized, self-sustaining system of micro-grids Read More...
Never better: The world according to Bill Gates
If you watch or read the news on a daily basis, you probably think the world is going to hell. But that’s not what Bill Gates thinks. In fact, he has never seen the world in a more peaceful and prosperous state. See here the reasons behind Gates' refreshing view of the Read More...
Reading the Bible through neuroscience
James Kugel has spent his entire scholarly career studying the Bible, but some very basic questions about it still obsess him. What was it about the minds of ancient Israelites that allowed them to hear and see God directly—or at least, to believe that they Read More...
A Proterra electric bus just drove 1,100 miles on a single charge
On Tuesday, Proterra revealed that one of its Catalyst E2 Max electric buses just set a new world record for the longest distance traveled by an electric vehicle on a single charge. The bus, which packs a hefty 660kWh of storage—equivalent to 11 Chevy Bolts—drove a total of 1,101.2 miles Read More...