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.
The 94-old inventor of the lithium battery now has a better battery
Some people have the wrong name. The inventor of the lithium-ion battery, that likely powers the device you’re reading this on right now, is 94 years old—but not satisfied with his invention as his last name would suggest. John Goodenough of the University of Texas at Austin has invented a Read More...
Solar power now least expensive source of electricity in 60 countries
March 5th, 2017 by Steve Hanley Solar power is now the least expensive source of electricity in 60 countries around the world, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Why is that important? Many of those countries are part of the developing world, places where, until recently, people have Read More...
How a college kid made his Honda Civic self-driving for $700
Brevan Jorgenson’s grandma kept her cool when he took her for a nighttime spin in the Honda Civic he’s modified to drive itself on the highway. A homemade device in place of the rear-view mirror can control the brakes, accelerator, and steering, and it uses a camera to identify road Read More...
The calorie cloud turns weight loss efforts into food for developing countries
UNICEF’S Kid Power band is an activity tracker that counts how much energy the user burns. Since 2014, the humanitarian organization dispersed these trackers to kids across the U.S. to wear while they exercise. Then, using that data, the humanitarian organization can give a commensurate amount of Read More...
The UPS truck can now launch a delivery drone while driving
Companies like Google and Amazon are experimenting with drone deliveries, and now UPS has joined in on the action. However, the UPS delivery service stands out. Instead of operating from a fixed distribution center, the UPS drone is launched from the top of a delivery truck. While the drone Read More...
New York will offer $2,000 if you buy an electric car
Believe it or not, New York hasn't offered a financial incentive to buy eco-friendly cars. While over three quarters of the US has some kind of state-level discount, New York has made you 'settle' for the federal tax credit. Officials are about to sweeten the pot, though: months after approval, New Read More...
Mexico poised to build up solar energy
While immigration and the “wall” have sparked an angry political debate, Mexico is primed for a huge buildup of renewable energy resources and of its electric grid, which will yield huge benefits on both sides of the border. The imminent expansion of solar and wind deployments in Mexico is a Read More...
AImotive aims to convert regular cars into driverless ones inexpensively
The AImotive office is in a small converted house at the end of a quiet residential street in sunny Mountain View, spitting distance from Google’s headquarters. Outside is a branded Toyota Prius covered in cameras, one of three autonomous cars the Hungarian company is testing in the sleepy Read More...
Solar installations in US increased 95 percent last year
This graph nicely shows the exponential trajectory that the growth of solar power has reached. Prices keep falling, and we may expect solar installations to further Read More...
In the (near) future you are going to share your car—here’s how
Purely from a transportation perspective, owning a self-driving car may make less sense. The car can—and should—drive as much as possible and can still be available anytime you need it. However, currently, we experience our cars also as a part of our personal lives that you may not want to Read More...