Today’s Solutions: January 18, 2025

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.

DIY clean energy: Spray-on sol

DIY clean energy: Spray-on solar panels are closer to reality than you think

We may not be too far away from a world where solar panels can be rolled atop your car or sprayed onto the windows of your house thanks to something called perovskites, a range of materials that can be used to harvest light. Solar researchers love perovskites because they are not only efficient but Read More...

Germany converts coal mine int

Germany converts coal mine into giant battery storage for surplus solar power

Germany is embarking on an innovative project to turn a hard coal mine into a giant battery that can store surplus solar and wind energy and release it when supplies are lean. The Prosper-Haniel coal mine in the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia will be converted into a 200 megawatt Read More...

Tomorrow’s self-driving car

Tomorrow’s self-driving car market has started to look like PCs in the ’90s

Welcome to Last Week Was a Beta, our Monday look back on the big stories in tech last week. We were at SXSW in Austin, Texas, last week and thinking about the big trends in tech as soon as we reached baggage claim, because there was a guy there at a folding table promoting Ride Austin, a non-profit Read More...

How renewable energy batteries

How renewable energy batteries can change lives in Third World countries

Many companies like Alcen Renewables, Inc. are firm believers that, when energy is accessible to everyone, it will solve many of the world’s problems, including daily issues that people in third world countries confront. As a result, energy storage through renewable energy batteries has the Read More...

Renewable energy will boost th

Renewable energy will boost the world economy with $19 trillion, says report

The best news is the fight against global warming increasingly will be a business opportunity rather than a political responsibility. When companies see the opportunity, it doesn’t matter so much anymore what politicians do or think. We are getting at that point with renewable energy prices Read More...

Texas positioned to lead hydro

Texas positioned to lead hydrogen revolution

For decades Texas has been the largest producer of transportation fuels in the United States. Our refineries have produced gasoline, diesel and jet fuel that mobilized the nation and made the state rich. But based on current projections, demand for gasoline will decrease significantly in the coming Read More...

Bluetooth bike lock stops unat

Bluetooth bike lock stops unattended wheels from turning

A group of South Korean entrepreneurs has created the ultimate bike lock. The cylindrical device can be permanently installed on the front wheel of a bike and locks it automatically when the rider walks away from the parked bike. The rider connects to the lock with their phone through Bluetooth. Read More...

Install an electric car chargi

Install an electric car charging station yourself? Yes, you can!

An electric car charging station is quickly becoming a must-have for new home builders as construction and design companies get ahead of the curve and include this feature in modern developments. What to do, then, if you live in an older home that wasn’t originally intended to make use of Read More...

Orlando wants to turn its enti

Orlando wants to turn its entire city into a theme park for self-driving cars

The Florida resort destination better know for boy bands and Disney World is vying to become the self-driving car capital of the world. Orlando has a smooth plan for embracing the new technology: Turn the city into the globe’s largest test track, and give the tourist, defense and tech industries Read More...

The next oil boom will be in t

The next oil boom will be in the ocean—and, yes, it’s sustainable

Most exciting clean energy news comes from wind and solar. But these renewables have their challenges: The sun doesn’t always shine etc. Carbon neutral biofuels—like ethanol from corn—don’t have these problems but they take up valuable agricultural land space that could be used for growing Read More...