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.
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...
Barack Obama: The irreversible momentum of clean energy
In the final days of his presidency, Barack Obama is using all the tools he can to leave a lasting impression. He wrote a commentary for the prestigious scientific journal Science arguing that the push toward renewable energy is unstoppable and that it’s a valid strategy for economic growth. Read More...
Volkswagen taps hippie heritage with an electric microbus
Volkswagen unveiled a battery-powered version of its iconic hippie-era Microbus as the carmaker overhauls its North American lineup to move beyond its emissions-cheating scandal. The latest iteration of the van, a concept dubbed the I.D. Buzz, is part of the VW brand’s strategy to deliver one Read More...
Study calls for special business model for solar power in remote areas
A new study calls for special business model for developing low-cost, off-grid solar energy in some remote areas where costs and remote terrain often make it impractical or even impossible to extend the electric grid. Around the world, more than 1.2 billion people lack access to basic electricity Read More...
Google just made a big move to bring down the cost of self-driving cars
Google parent company Alphabet just made a big move to bring its self-driving car tech to market cheaper and faster. Alphabet-owned company Waymo has slashed the price of lidar, a key component of self-driving cars that helps them see the world, by 90%, Waymo CEO John Krafcik said during a keynote Read More...
A robotics expert predicts that kids born in 2017 will never drive a car
Henrik Christensen, director of the University of California San Diego’s Contextual Robotics Institute, has issued a jarring prophecy for the next generation: “My own prediction is that kids born today will never get to drive a car.” His forecast, which he shared in a December Read More...
How blockchain is impacting clean energy
No one enjoys paying their electricity bill. It keeps going up and up, with a bunch of new nonsense fees thrown on top every few years. What’s worse is that many parts of the world still rely on dirty fossil fuels to produce this energy. By now we have all heard about the potential of solar Read More...