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.
California to build largest geothermal power plant in the U.S
Below the surface of the Salton Sea in California’s southeastern desert lies one of the world’s largest sources geothermal energy—where the earth’s heat and pressure create hot water and steam all day long. Now two start-up firms have announced plans to build the nation’s largest Read More...
The first self-driving bus on U.S. public streets is carrying passengers in Las Vegas
A small autonomous bus called an Arma is running a short route along Las Vegas’ Fremont Street, marking, according to transit operator Keolis, the first time a self-driving bus has moved passengers on an American public road. The route is short—just three blocks. And this is only a Read More...
Twelve things you need to know about driverless cars
From forecourt to scrapyard, a new car in the UK lasts an average of 13.9 years, which is why if you got one today, it might very well be the last car you buy. Over the next decade, accelerating autonomous driving technology, including advances in artificial intelligence, sensors, cameras, radar Read More...
How BlaBlaCar created a global transport network
A rail strike is a strange time to realise that your start-up is going to be a success but that was the moment that the founders of BlaBlaCar knew that their company was going to take off. BlaBlaCar is the French online ride-sharing company that pairs people travelling between cities with drivers Read More...
China, Europe drive shift to electric cars as U.S. lags
DETROIT Electric cars will pick up critical momentum in 2017, many in the auto industry believe - just not in North America. Tighter emissions rules in China and Europe leave global carmakers and some consumers with little choice but to embrace plug-in vehicles, fuelling an investment surge, said Read More...
Why more and more countries are taking an interest in geothermal energy
At 2:46 p.m. local time on Friday, March 11, 2011, Japan was rocked by the largest earthquake ever to strike its shores. The 9.1 magnitude quake triggered a devastating tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people. It also took out the back-up emergency generators that cooled the reactors at the Read More...
U.S Department of Energy changes policy in order to protect scientific integrity
At a time when scientific facts are frequently disputed for political reasons, the U.S Department of Energy is updating its policy to ensure the “protection of scientific integrity”. The policy will make sure the Energy Department does not ask scientists to tailor their work to particular Read More...
From toxic wasteland to solar paradise: How Chernobyl is being revived
The Chernobyl fallout of 1986 wreaked havoc on a vast area of land in Ukraine, rendering the area surrounding the power plant completely useless. Now the land will be used to produce energy again, except this time, it will be done through solar panels. Ukrainian officials have announced that two Read More...
Your next car wants to be your best friend
Behold that bonkers styling—the fluorescent stripes on the floorboards, the avant-garde high-design shell. Toyota's Concept-i certainly looks the part of a hyper-futuristic concept car. But the real star of the show is the ghost in the machine. Its name is Yui, and it wants to be your bestie. Read More...
How robot cars learn to drive without leaving the garage
The computers that control self-driving cars are gaining valuable knowledge about the real world in some surprising ways—including browsing online maps and playing video games. Researchers at Princeton University recently developed a computer vision and mapping system that gathered useful Read More...