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 coal truth: how a major energy source lost its power in Britain
Once the engine of the Industrial Revolution and employer of nearly 1.2 million people, the fall of old king coal in the UK has been precipitous. Only five years ago, the fuel was generating more than 40% of the UK’s electricity, but new analysis by Imperial College London reveals coal supplied Read More...
Audi examines how we'll spend our time in self-driving cars
Self-driving technology promises to dramatically change the way we interact with our cars, and in ways we're not entirely sure of yet. Audi has teamed up with the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering to explore how people will spend their time in autonomous cars, and how manufacturers Read More...
China is crushing the U.S. in renewable energy
As the Trump administration yanks the U.S. out of the Paris climate change agreement, claiming it will hurt the American economy, Beijing is investing hundreds of billions of dollars and creating millions of jobs in clean power. China has built vast solar and wind farms, helping fuel the growth of Read More...
Anyone home? Meet the couple revolutionizing the humble doorbell
There are few things more infuriating than arriving home to a “Sorry we missed you”card after waiting hours for a delivery. A report last year from IMRG estimated that failed deliveries are costing retailers up to £780m, not to mention the frustration and inconvenience for Read More...
Driving home the good news about electric cars with Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson – showman, self-publicist and master of the media – could hardly have come up with a more symbolic setting if he tried. Last weekend, his electric car racing team sped through New York City, clocking speeds of 150mph (240kmph) in cars built with technology Read More...
‘Renewable energy will be the cheapest form of power in every country by 2020’
The plummeting cost of renewable energy means even if Donald Trump pulls the US out of the Paris climate change accord, America will still meet its commitments in the agreement, a new report has said. Analysts at investment company Morgan Stanley say prices for clean Read More...
Utilities are giving people cash for clean cars
Utilities have begun offering direct rebates for electric vehicles in an effort to jump-start sluggish sales in an emerging car market that stands to benefit them financially. Electric companies in Vermont and California have offered customers $450 to $1,200 off their electric bill if they buy a Read More...
Here’s how coal-reliant communities should transition away from fossil fuels
As much as we applaud news of coal-fired power stations being shut down, the truth is that these closures can dramatically affect the communities that relied on these stations economically. Tonawanda, New York is no different. The working class Buffalo suburb lost its largest air and water Read More...
How many solar panels are needed to power the entire USA? Elon Musk knows
At the National Governors Association meeting this past weekend, Elon Musk reminded more than thirty governors how much real-estate is needed to make sure America can run completely on solar energy. “If you wanted to power the entire United States with solar panels, it would take a fairly small Read More...
Affordable home geothermal energy systems come to upstate New York
When you think of home renewable power systems, geothermal energy probably isn’t the first source that springs to mind. But new company Dandelion, which starts after time at Google’s moonshot factory X, aims to power houses with the clean, free source “right under our feet.” Read More...