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.
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...
Hey tech sector, this is how you save the climate
When Greenpeace released its annual report ranking tech companies for their efforts to protect the environment, it wasn’t Google or Apple standing atop the list. Instead, taking the crown as environmental leader was Switch, a tech company operating some of the largest data centers in the world. Read More...
China's anti-Teslas: cheap models drive electric car boom
More electric cars are sold in China than in the rest of the world combined, but are mainly locally-branded models that are cheaper and have a shorter range than those offered by foreign automakers such as Tesla and Nissan. The Chinese-branded electric vehicle (EV) market is propped up by huge Read More...
Zero-emission boat prepares for round-the-world odyssey
The first self-sufficient boat powered only by emission-free energy will start a six-year trip around the world in the spring. Energy Observer, a former multi-hull race boat converted into a green vessel equipped with solar panels, wind turbines and a hydrogen fuel cell system, will be powered by Read More...
Solar-powered electric buses ‒ a UK first
Unlike conventional buses, the new Big Lemon Buses project uses an innovative combination of three renewable technologies to generate clean energy during the day, store it in a battery and then charge up the new solar buses overnight More articles about Fire, snow and mist: resilience and the way Read More...
How electric trucks will shape the auto transport industry
January 10th, 2017 by EV Expert  Diesel-powered engines have garnered a reputation for their nasty emissions. Nitrous oxides may contribute to asthma and shortened life spans. Particulates are also bad for lungs and other living tissue. Of course, we cannot forget about the pollutant carbon Read More...
Government review likely to back Swansea Bay tidal lagoon
Plans for a pioneering tidal power lagoon in Swansea Bay are expected to be supported by a government-commissioned report this week, potentially unlocking a multibillion-pound series of projects harnessing electricity from the rise and fall of the tide around the UK. When ministers last year Read More...
640 companies to Trump: Stay the course on clean energy
A total of 640 businesses and investors sent a letter to President-elect Trump and Congress on Tuesday, strongly urging continued investment in the clean energy sector. The letter, coordinated by the nonprofit group Ceres, which works with investors and companies to promote sustainability, contains Read More...
Researchers successfully produce large quantities of synthetic spider silk
Spider silk is the holy grail of biomaterials. It’s amazingly tough and lightweight, and can be used in everything from violin strings to electronics. Unfortunately, spiders cannot produce enough of it for it to be commercially viable, which is why researchers have created a prototype process Read More...
Researchers look to bypass the grid to power trains in the U.K
Conventional wisdom tells us we need power plants to operate things like factories and railways, but the Imperial College London begs the differ. Along with climate charity 10:10, they plan to investigate the use of track-side solar panels to power trains to connect solar panels directly to the Read More...