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.
Costa Rica ran for 98 percent on renewable energy last year
Costa Rica is the poster child for sustainable economic development. The Central American country generated 99% of its energy needs from renewable sources in 2015, and nearly repeated that feat again in 2016 after getting 98% of its electricity in clean fashion. So how is this all possible? Costa Read More...
CES 2017: Faraday Future unveils super fast electric car
Start-up Faraday Future has unveiled a self-driving electric car that it says can accelerate from zero to 60mph (97km/h) in 2.39 seconds. Faraday says the FF91 accelerates faster than Tesla's Model S or any other electric car in production. It was shown off at the CES tech show in Las Vegas. But Read More...
Artificial leaf goes more efficient for hydrogen generation
A team of international researchers, affiliated with UNIST has recently engineered a new artificial leaf that can convert sunlight into fuel with groundbreaking efficiency. The research results achieved by Professor Jae Sung Lee and Professor Ji-Wook Jang of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST Read More...
Solar power is cheaper than fossil fuel for the first time
Solar energy is now cheaper than traditional fossil fuels. Solar and wind is now either the same price or cheaper than new fossil fuel capacity in more than 30 countries, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum. The influential foundaton has described the change as a "tipping point" Read More...
This electric bus company just raised $140 million
According to Proterra, a Burlingame, Ca.-based company, its zero-emission electric buses can drive a stunning 350 miles one charge — and on city streets, no less. With that kind of claim, it’s no wonder investors just poured $140 million into the outfit, which began garnering Read More...
Christmas Day 2016 sets new UK record for renewable energy use
Christmas Day was the greenest on record for energy generation, according to the power group Drax. The company said more than 40% of the electricity generated on the day came from renewable sources, the highest ever. It compared with 25% on Christmas Day in 2015, and 12% in 2012. Andy Koss, chief Read More...
Here's how we can power 100% of the world with renewable energy
Here's a 2017 New Year's resolution I'd like to see the nations of the world adopt: an immediate international effort to invest in a world where 100 percent of our electricity will be generated by wind, water and solar power by 2050. Such an effort is technically and economically feasible and has Read More...
Israel as a lab for smart transportation
Nearly every Israeli is familiar with the Waze application, which has changed the way we all drive. But the Waze brand only really has a presence in Israel; elsewhere in the world, it has been swallowed up in the company that bought it for $1.1 billion in 2013: Google. Some 70% of all traffic Read More...
MIT: 3,000 ride-sharing cars can replace all 13,000 cabs in New York City
Here’s a good example of how the sharing economy can reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and carbon emissions. According to a new MIT study, 3,000 ride-sharing cars—if used exclusively for carpooling—could replace all 13,000 taxis in New York City. The researchers calculated that 3,000 Read More...
Here are some of the self-driving startups to watch in 2017
2016 was the year of many things. For the auto and tech industries, it was the year the companies that already placed their bets on self-driving technology began showing their hands. Auto giants — some of which were increasingly aware that they were moving into relatively uncharted territory Read More...