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.
This startup aims to power your devices with light and without batteries
Our homes are full of devices that require electricity to stay active. Your television is on standby; your remote requires batteries. Together these devices consume a lot of power. Batteries need to be recharged—until they are discarded—or replaced. This startup wants to replace the batteries Read More...
Saving energy with smart tires that alert drivers when maintenance is needed
The pressure in the tires of your car has a big impact on safety as well as on fuel efficiency. If tire pressure is too low, cars will slide easier, and their engines consume more gas. Fuel efficiency can be improved up to 7 percent with proper pressure in the tires. That’s why the new smart Read More...
Renault electric-car owners can double their range by upgrading leased batteries
When the updated 2017 Renault Zoe was unveiled last fall at the Paris auto show, it became one of the few electric cars whose range effectively doubled over its model life. Launched in 2012 with a 22-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, the five-door subcompact hatchback had an effective range of 60 Read More...
Innovative energy storage technologies are making solar a 24-hour energy source
The rapid growth of solar energy requires storage innovation to make sure that the clean energy is available 24/7. In Sweden, a team of scientists is developing a liquid energy storage medium that can not only release energy from the Sun on demand but is also transportable. Meanwhile, in China Read More...
Uber’s latest crash reminds us how badly we need self-driving cars
A self-driving Uber car was involved in a high-speed crash in Tempe, Arizona yesterday. No one was seriously injured, and the Volvo XC90 SUV, which was driving itself at the time, had the right of way and bears no blame, according to police. “We are continuing to look into this incident Read More...
Oil companies see clean opportunity using rigs for wind turbines
Oil companies have been exploiting oil platforms in seas and oceans for decades. Now, with the clean and renewable energy revolution gathering steam, they have an unique opportunity to use these rigs to install windmills. It may be a move that won’t exactly support their main business—selling Read More...
Behind Saudi Arabia's $2 trillion bet on a sustainable future
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, at 31 years old, is the driving force behind the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s radical economic experiment. If his plans succeed, he’ll also be the world’s largest impact investor. And like any impact investor, the deputy crown Read More...
Twitter is clamping down on accounts linked to terrorism
Social media are responding to the critique their platforms are being misused to spread fake news or to promote violence. In fact, Twitter has been more pro-active than other social media and the company has announced that it has suspended 636,248 accounts since the middle of Read More...
Google’s project sunroof: 80 percent of US roofs are suitable for solar panels
Google has updated its Project Sunroof to include 3-D models of every rooftop in all 50 states. The new software takes into consideration the trees on your property, how much sun or shade hits your rooftop, and figures in the prevailing weather in your area. Then it takes all that data and builds a Read More...
25 cities now committed to 100 percent renewables
Madison, Wisconsin and Abita Springs, Louisiana are transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy following respective city council votes on Tuesday. Madison and Abita Springs are the first cities in Wisconsin and Louisiana to make this commitment. They join 23 other cities across the United Read More...