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.
Forget self-driving cars. Automated public transportation is coming
Commuting into a city can be a nightmare, am I right? Maybe you're drumming your fingers through a traffic jam or squeezing onto an overcrowded train. Me, I live in London and I know how bad the underground system can get at rush hour. If the tube is delayed or being repaired, getting to and from Read More...
If India meets renewables target, no more coal power needed in 10 years
As the prospects for coal-generated electricity recede globally, India is one of the last bastions of the world's oldest, dirtiest energy source -- although construction of new coal-fired power plants is faltering. From January 2016 to January 2017, development of coal-fired power capacity fell Read More...
Scientists closer to ultimate carbon solution: artificial photosynthesis
We publish these stories about technological innovation with some regularity in The Optimist Daily. The breakthrough potential is not always easy to grasp. But we continue to present these stories because they show that ongoing innovation will change our future for the better—as it always has. Read More...
This advance brings us a lot closer to a "hydrogen economy"
Hydrogen is currently used to upgrade crude oil and synthesize ammonia, a critical building block of the fertilizers applied in modern agriculture. It also could be valuable as a feedstock for generating green electricity and as an ingredient in environmentally friendly fuel cells to power cars and Read More...
London to spend £18m on preparing the city for new electric black cabs
Transport for London is spending £18m on upgrading the capital’s power grids to charge the first generation of battery-powered black cabs. From 1 January 2018, all new black cabs will have to be battery-powered electric models by law as part of TfL’s effort to reduce toxic Read More...
New cycling system helps Dutch riders beat red lights
The Dutch love their biking culture so much that they’re pioneering a new system that will help riders beat red lights. The system, called Flo, uses speed cameras placed 100 meters before each set of traffic lights to calculate whether or not the cyclist should change speed to hit the green Read More...
The founder of Wikipedia is bringing a fact-based mentality back to journalism
Fake news is an online virus of deliberately misleading information masqueraded as legitimate news. To put an end to it, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is launching a community-driven online news service that will bring the fact-based, fact-checking mentality of Wikipedia to the news. The project, Read More...
Uber plans to test flying cars within three years
Uber Technologies Inc. on Tuesday detailed ambitious plans to take to the skies with flying cars, as the ride-hailing company is reeling from a series of controversies including a lawsuit that could impede its crucial self-driving vehicle initiative. At a conference in Dallas, far from the San Read More...
You can finally ride in Google’s self-driving car
After nearly a decade of working on self-driving cars in private, Google is finally ready to take the public for a ride. Its autonomous spin-off, Waymo is adding 500 modified Chrysler Pacifica minivans to the 100 it already has on the roads of Phoenix, Arizona, and has invited locals to sign up for Read More...
Today’s energy jobs are in solar, not coal
President Trump has promised to revive the coal industry and double down on fossil fuels, creating “so many energy jobs,” but he has so far ignored the increasingly important role of renewable power in America’s energy economy. Last year, the solar industry employed many more Read More...