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.
Microbial fuel cell converts methane to electricity
Transporting methane from gas wellheads to market provides multiple opportunities for this greenhouse gas to leak into the atmosphere. Now, an international team of researchers has taken the first step in converting methane directly to electricity using bacteria, in a way that could be done near Read More...
Flying cars set for takeoff at Tokyo Olympics in 2020
Japan has taken a step closer to realizing its dream of launching flying cars in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, following investment from a major car company. Toyota is funding a project which aims to bring the world’s smallest flying car to the skies using the latest drone technology. Its Read More...
GM goal: profitable, affordable electric cars built in big numbers
Automotive innovation rolls out over many years, usually decades, and usually only a few companies lead. Others hang back, waiting to see if buyers will accept new features, new powertrains, and new types of vehicles. More than six years after modern electric cars hit the market in volume, many Read More...
UK renewables break records, coal drops to 6 percent
The first quarter of the year was an impressive one for the UK’s renewable energy fleet, with wind farms, biomass, and hydro all recording their highest ever quarterly output and solar power reaching a new high of its own for peak power output. According to Drax Electric Insights, with data Read More...
Oil platforms as part of large-scale North Sea renewable energy generation
The more than 1400 oil and gas platforms currently located in the North Sea might eventually be used to fight the problem they helped to create: unsustainable energy generation. By revamping these installations, they could become part of the energy revolution as hydrogen production and storage Read More...
Stanford scientist: People will stop driving, all new cars will be electric by 2025
Remember the world without smart phones? That’s only ten years ago. That was a radical, exponential change. Some experts predict that the entry of the self-driving electric car will follow a similar revolutionary path. And, today, that may be as hard to imagine as the introduction of the iPhone Read More...
Science says goofing off makes you more creative
It's an obvious truism that creativity is the source of innovation which is in turn the source of business success. Not surprisingly, most companies try to make their employees more creative, usually through brainstorming, collaboration and open plan offices that encourage social interaction. Read More...
Scientists from enemy nations create a beacon for peace in the Middle East
They’ve built a machine in the desert in the heart of the Middle East. Israelis will use it — and so will Iranians, Jordanians, Turks, Pakistanis and many others. Scientists from countries recently at war or without diplomatic relations will work side by side — Muslims, Jews, Read More...
Sound-dampening earbuds let you control real world audio like a volume button
Knops work mechanically to reduce real-world noise to very low levels. Sound can be a wonderful thing, but too much noise can mark the onset of migraines and hearing decay. Billed as an “acoustic hearing solution” that enables full control over the surrounding sounds you hear, this Read More...
Researchers report new, more efficient catalyst for water splitting
University of Houston physicists have discovered a catalyst that can split water into hydrogen and oxygen, composed of easily available, low-cost materials and operating far more efficiently than previous catalysts. That would solve one of the primary hurdles remaining in using water to produce Read More...