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.
Tesla extends range of cars in Florida to help owners escape Hurricane Irma
Tesla has decided to temporarily unlock the full battery capacity of all Model S and Model X cars in Florida to support local residents dealing with the impact of Hurricane Irma. Tesla said that by doing this, drivers had an extra range of about 30 to 40 miles in order to ensure a safe evacuation Read More...
The price of building windfarms has plummeted to a record low
At a government auction in the UK, two new offshore windfarms were awarded to developers at £57.50 per MWh. That’s half the price new offshore windfarms were being awarded at just two years ago. With a new generation of even bigger turbines expected to generate power efficiently in the near Read More...
GM boasts “the world’s first mass-producible driverless car”
General Motors has unveiled the third version of its self-driving car–the first such car “that meets the redundancy and safety requirements we believe are necessary to operate without a driver,” Kyle Vogt, CEO of the General Motors-owned Read More...
This Japanese farm harvests sunlight and mushrooms
A new solar project in Japan mixes solar power generation with mushroom farming. While the solar farm collects sunlight at the top of the panels, cloud-eared mushrooms will grow underneath them. The dual-purpose business model strips away the hurdles farmers currently face when trying to enter Read More...
China sets fossil fuel deadline and accelerates electric cars push
As China prepares to end sales of fossil-fuel powered vehicles to meet its carbon emissions reduction target by 2030, the world’s second-biggest economy is pushing to accelerate its own electric car manufacturing companies. The move will have a profound impact on both the environment as well as Read More...
Is the flying car ready for takeoff?
A little white winged pod lifts itself off the ground and glides off into the distance. The whole movement looks Read More...
Report: Automation will create more high-skilled jobs in India
The rise of artificial intelligence and automation doesn’t always equate to job loss. According to a new report, the number of medium-skilled IT employees in India is estimated to rise to 1 million from 900,000 while the number of high-skilled employees will jump to over half a million due to Read More...
Solar park in Sahara to power 2m homes in Europe, generates 20,000 jobs
Construction on a massive solar park three times the size of Manhattan that would bring energy from Tunisia to Europe could soon be underway. If approved by Tunisia’s government, the solar park would pipe electricity to Malta, Italy and France using submarine cables and would provide electricity Read More...
Self-driving cars’ prospects rise with vote by House
Auto and technology giants, including Ford Motor, General Motors and Waymo, Alphabet’s driverless division, have pushed hard for the new law. They have also pressed regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to clarify Read More...
Hydrogen power storage could be an important part of a fossil fuel free future
Some big names in the energy industry are putting billions of dollars into the research and development of hydrogen power storage solutions. Critics call the plans convoluted and believe batteries are good enough for the Read More...