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.
This Harvard breakthrough with hydrogen can change everything electricity
Hydrogen can play a major role in a clean, renewable energy economy. It can be used to store electricity generated by solar panels and windmills. The problem is that hydrogen is a gas and that makes it a challenge to store it. That’s why for nearly 100 years, scientists have dreamed of turning Read More...
New York approves country’s next largest offshore wind project
The Long Island Power Authority has approved the development of New York’s first, and the country’s second, offshore wind farm, the 90 megawatt South Fork Wind Farm. The United States’ offshore wind industry is, currently, not the world’s most impressive. The only project Read More...
China’s answer to Tesla is hopeful entrant to global car market
Across China, government officials, corporate executives, private investors and newcomers like Mr. Lu are in a headlong rush to develop a domestic electric car industry. The country’s goal, like Mr. Lu’s, is to capitalize on the transition to electric to turbocharge the country’s Read More...
BP sees demand for oil slowing with electric car revolution
The electric car revolution that California’s utilities are preparing for will transform the oil industry. History is full of examples that industry leaders are ill-prepared to deal with such shocks and present-day oil companies are no exception. Downplaying the impact of the electric car is Read More...
California utilities plan $1 billion expansion of electric car charging stations
Three of California’s largest utilities plan to add thousands of new charging stations for electric cars in the state. The utilities are ready to invest $1 billion in the project. The costs will be passed on to ratepayers and still need to be approved by the California Public Utilities Read More...
Scotland sets 50 percent renewable energy target
Half of Scotland's heat, transport and electricity energy needs will be met by renewables by 2030 under plans published by the Scottish government. The draft Scottish Energy Strategy sets out a vision for the transition away from oil and gas dependency and towards a low-carbon economy by 2050. Only Read More...
No, new coal is not feasible: on price, reliability or emissions
Are we going to renew Australia’s coal-fired electricity generators? It doesn’t seem likely. Here’s why. Australians want three things from their electricity system: costs they can afford, supply they can rely on, and environmental sustainability. It’s easy to trade off one Read More...
Renewables now cheapest, but how to enable faster renewable energy growth
Renewable energy is now the cheapest option, on average, for new electricity capacity around the world — in developed countries like the U.S. as well as developing countries like India, China, Nigeria, and Mexico. As I noted the other day, we need to keep channeling this message to the broader Read More...
Tesla quietly introduces longest-range electric car on the market
Without much fanfare, Tesla has added a new battery option to its menu. The Model S 100D, currently listed at a base price of $92,500, offers an EPA-rated range of 335 miles on a full charge, making it, according to Autoblog, the longest-range consumer electric vehicle in the world. The range is 20 Read More...
This village is solving the problem of too much sun with batteries
This village in the U.K. is the unlikely testing ground for a new technology to store and use local power for longer, bypassing the grid and cutting energy bills. This month dozens of homes in Oxspring will have a home battery installed to see if they can make solar power more valuable to Read More...