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.
Renewables cut Europe's carbon emissions by 10 percent in 2015
A surge in the use of wind and solar energy helped Europe to cut its fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by about 10% in 2015, an authoritative new report has found. Energy use from renewables rose to 16.7% of Europe’s total, up from 15% in 2013, and accounted for 77% of the Read More...
Meditation and psychedelic drug ayahuasca change the brain in similar ways
At the end of a dark earthen trail in the Peruvian Amazon stands a round structure with a thatched roof that appears to glow from within. In the Temple of the Way of Light, as it is known, indigenous healers called Onanya teach visitors about the therapeutic uses of ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic Read More...
This turbine can harvest green energy in water currents as slow as 2 mph
A Canadian company has designed a water turbine which can harvest energy in slow moving water. "Waterotor" can work in currents as slow as 2 mph which means it could be used in almost any river, canal, or ocean current. The company believes that "Waterotor" could be the solution for many of Read More...
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...