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.
Groundbreaking solution for solar storage inspired by ferns
A new invention by scientists in Australia stores solar energy at a much higher capacity than existing technology. The scientists developed a highly compact electrode that is designed to hook up to a supercapacitor, which can charge and discharge energy at a much faster rate than conventional Read More...
Tesla Model X electric car versus Toyota Mirai fuel-cell car: road trip
The ability to travel long distances has long been a distinguishing feature of Tesla's luxury electric cars, whose Supercharger fast-charging network now offers access to essentially every part of the 48 continental states. But where hydrogen infrastructure exists, which can cover a long road trip Read More...
2017 Honda Clarity: A hydrogen fuel cell car that delivers fun
The science experiment is over. Hydrogen fuel cars are real. Toyota and Hyundai proved it with their Mirai and Tucson FCVs. Now Honda has taken the technology a step further. The 2017 Clarity is real, and it’s really fun. Honda's fuel cell entry is a stylish four-door sedan that offers Read More...
In New York, neighbors trading solar energy electrify community
A quiet energy revolution is taking place in the homes that light up in the evening in the New York City neighborhoods of Gowanus Canal and Park Slope. It isn't just power plant electricity that keeps this community lit at night, but also energy generated by neighbors across the street or a few Read More...
Creating renewable energy storage out of hot air
The rapid growth of solar arrays and wind farms might sound like a win for the environment, but storing renewable sources of energy efficiently on the grid remains a challenge for energy providers. EU scientists are turning to a cheap and plentiful natural resource for the answer: air. While flow Read More...
Plunging price of renewable energy makes end of fossil fuels inevitable, says report
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy “now appears irreversible” as the cost of green power plunges, according to a new report. In The Transition Takes Hold, Clean Energy Canada said some 6.7 million people were working in the sector worldwide with one out of every 50 new Read More...
Toyota is using AI to hunt for new battery materials
Toyota has turned to artificial intelligence for help in the hunt for new advanced battery materials and fuel cell catalysts. The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is investing $35 million into the project and is teaming up with various institutions and companies, including MIT and Stanford Read More...
From combustion to electric: Mercedes hastens shift away from gas cars
In an effort to meet tighter emissions standards, Mercedez-Benz is going all in on electric cars. The world’s largest luxury-car maker has embarked on a 10 billion euro project to release 10 new electric vehicles by 2022, three years earlier than a target announced at the Paris auto show in Read More...
Nuclear energy dealt crushing blow as Westinghouse files for bankruptcy
We don't often report on bankruptcies. They hardly represent solutions. But this is a good one. As the prices of natural gas and renewable energy sources continue to tumble, nuclear power is having a hard time keeping up. Westinghouse Electric's filing for bankruptcy protection illustrates the Read More...
Henrik Fisker is solving major problem in the car startup world
Henrik Fisker is well known for founding Fisker Automotive in 2007, a startup carmaker that challenged Tesla before going bankrupt in 2013. The designer and entrepreneur has since staged a comeback, unveiling a new supercar with his company VLF Automotive in 2016 and unveiling a new all-electric Read More...