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.
France wants to ban all fossil fuel production by 2040
In what would be a world first, the government of President Emmanuel Macron wants to phase out all oil and gas exploration and production in France and its overseas territories by 2040. Sounds dramatic, but the EU nation has very little to lose as Read More...
Water-based lithium-ion batteries without explosive risks now a reality
A new water-based battery part could be the key to safe, powerful batteries that don’t risk catching on fire. Though they don’t last as long as the batteries already in our phones, researchers hope it’s an important next step toward solving Read More...
Mercedes prepares hydrogen plug-in hybrid for Frankfurt debut
Mercedes-Benz is putting the finishing touches on a hybrid fuel cell version of the GLC ahead of its debut in Frankfurt. We don't know many details about the car yet, but Mercedes has pulled back the curtain on the development process leading up Read More...
You could be hailing a flying taxi, just like you would an Uber, within 10 years
Two German startups, Lilium and Volocopter, are competing to bring fully electric VTOLs—aircraft designed for vertical takeoff and landing—to urban centers as cheaper, faster, and more sustainable forms of travel, and they are being backed by investors all over the Read More...
New water-cooling solar panels lower the cost of air conditioning by 20 percent
We’ve all heard of solar water heaters, but have you ever heard of solar water coolers? Researchers have come up with a roof-mounted system of panels that can cool a building by beaming excess heat back into space while cooling water beneath the panels to help industrial-size air-conditioning Read More...
Insect-eye inspired solar cells could pave the way to cheaper energy
When it comes to converting sunlight into electricity, the photovoltaic mineral perovskite is just as efficient as silicon and costs just a fraction of the price. The only problem is perovskites are fragile and can deteriorate easily when exposed to the elements. By mimicking a hexagon-shaped resin Read More...
Scotland to ban all petrol and diesel vehicles
The Scottish government aims to phase out new petrol and diesel cars and vans across Scotland by 2032, eight years ahead of the UK Government target. Nicola Sturgeon outlined plans to "massively expand" electric charging points and set up Read More...
Robotic kelp farms promise a competitive, abundant source of carbon neutral fuel
Kelp can be harvested in the ocean and turned into carbon-neutral biofuel. Because kelp can grow more than a foot a day and is easy to process, the production can be cost-competitive with fossil fuels. A startup is using elevators to grow kelp farther out in ocean waters. The technology is Read More...
Taxify provides cheaper, more driver-friendly alternative to Uber in London
It’s hard to overstate the success of Uber in London. In just a few years, it’s turned the iconic black hackney cab, which once roamed London’s streets unopposed, into a near-threatened Read More...
California wants to change the law and only allow renewable energy on grid
California lawmakers are considering passing a law that would ensure that eventually only clean energy moves through the state’s electricity grid, a goal nearly unmatched anywhere in the world. The proposal would accelerate the adoption of renewable energy by requiring utilities to obtain 60 Read More...