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 Uber effect on electricity
Leon Trotsky said, "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." The same thing might be said about disruptive technologies. The U.S. electric system, for example, may not be interested in disruptive technology, but disruptive technology is interested in it. What Uber and Lyft Read More...
Ultrafast camera to improve vision of self-driving cars and drones
To avoid accidents, self-driving cars and drones need to be able to quickly take in their surroundings even in extreme road conditions and bad weather, but conventional optical cameras aren't quite up to the job. To improve the vision of such vehicles, a team of engineers at the Nanyang Read More...
We need slow science to sow the seeds of future prosperity
A scientist's work is never done. They build on the work of others, and leave their own work for others to build on. Scientific progress is a bit like a tree with deepening roots and growing branches – which sometimes take a long time to bear fruit. Consider “bootstrap” research, Read More...
Bill Gates: The robot that takes your job should pay taxes
As artificial intelligence continues to advance, it's only a matter of time until robots start taking human jobs. Being well aware of this, Bill Gates has a plan that could help displaced workers economically while freeing up labor for work that requires human empathy and understanding. His plan: Read More...
Dubai will introduce self-flying taxi drone in July
Dubai wants to be the city of the future. This summer Dubai will introduce a self-flying taxi service. The city will use Chinese made drones that can carry one passenger weighing up to 100 kg (220 lb). The video shows a businessman placing a briefcase in the craft’s tiny trunk and strapping Read More...
It's cheaper to train consumers to save energy than to build new power plants
Energy guru Amory Lovins famously said: “We'd find more energy in the attics of American homes than in all the oil buried in Alaska.” The current debate in the U.S. is about what kind of energy should be used—coal, favored by the new president, or renewables. But it's much cheaper to train Read More...
New interactive tool shows ‘the evolution of wind power’ around the world
A new interactive web tool created between the Global Wind Energy Council and renewable energy software company Greenbyte allows users to witness The Evolution of Wind Power between 1981 and today. The Evolution of Wind Power was created based on data provided by the Global Wind Energy Council Read More...
These tiny solar cells can be folded and fit in the palm of your hand
Since the typical solar panel isn’t portable, researchers have developed tiny solar cells that can be folded up for transportation, incorporated into clothing, or easily used in electronics. One example of this would be placing a mini-solar panel on a backpack that can then charge your devices Read More...
Solar-powered trains are closer to reality than we might think
How can we connect solar photovoltaics (PV) directly to railways to power electric trains? That’s the question my charity 10:10 and researchers at Imperial College’s Energy Futures Lab are trying to answer. Electric trains are by far the best long distance transport mode when it comes Read More...
Kia confirms development of hydrogen model due in 2021
Kia will bring a bespoke hydrogen fuel-cell car to market before the end of 2021. Speaking to Autocar ahead of the Geneva motor show, the company’s head of marketing in Europe, Artur Martins, confirmed that development of a new fuel cell car was under way. Although he stopped short of Read More...