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’s plug-in electric vehicle fleet to surpass 250,000 milestone this month
The plug-in electric vehicle fleet in California has grown rapidly over the last few years, partly down to the substantial support that the government there provides, though partly due to the presence of companies such as Tesla, a greener focus in the state, wealthier citizens, and associated Read More...
The state of solar power looks bright in 2017 (+video)
By 2017, solar power capacity in the U.S. will have nearly tripled in less than three years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Combined wind, utility-scale and distributed solar power accounted for more than 66% of all new capacity installed in the U.S. last year. Already, more than twice Read More...
Want to boost wind and solar power? Bring them together
What’s keeping solar and wind power from fully taking over the electric grid? For starters, the sun only shines during the day. Wind blows intermittently, is seasonally variable, and is not always blowing when the energy is needed. But what if solar and wind work together? "Wind resource Read More...
Microsoft announces its largest wind energy purchase
Microsoft announced on Monday its largest purchase of wind energy to date in two agreements together representing 237 MW, bringing the company’s total investments in wind energy projects in the US to over 500 MW. Microsoft has been consistent in its ambitions to green its operations, Read More...
Beautiful solar structures: The future of urban design
Clean energy sources are often relegated to places where people cannot see them, like far in the ocean or on the roofs of buildings. But what if they were instead made into aesthetically-pleasing structures meant to be seen on the street? What if art could be combined with the production of solar Read More...
A new process to turn the waste heat of power plants into electricity
In most power plants, most of the energy produced ends up as heat. Some of this heat is then used to produce electricity but much of it typically gets lost when it escapes into the atmosphere. A group of researchers has developed a new material that can be used to turn waste heat into electricity. Read More...
Las Vegas is getting some new streetlights, and they will be powered by your feet
A New York startup has built four streetlights at a Vegas intersection that will be powered entirely by renewable energy. During the day, the lights will run on solar energy. But at night, they will be powered by the kinetic energy of all the people walking by them. The streetlights are a trial Read More...
This electric van let's you work comfortably on the road
Nissan has created the ideal car for the digital nomad. Considering that the traditional office works setting is no longer prominent, employees around the world can travel and work as they go as long as they have internet. With that in mind, Nissan created the world’s first electronic mobile Read More...
Daimler boss tells German Greens he shares vision of zero-emission cars
The chairman of Germany's largest luxury carmaker, Daimler-Benz, braved boos and a frosty reception as guest speaker at a Greens party congress on Sunday to tell delegates he too wants CO2-free cars on the roads. Dieter Zetsche, whose company is demonized by many Greens, said the firm had not Read More...
Aruba commits to 100% renewable energy
While many nations are taking steps toward energy independence, Aruba is diving in. In 2012, the small island nation pledged to transition to 100 percent renewable energy within eight years. Justin Locke is director of the island energy program at the Carbon War Room, an international nonprofit. He Read More...