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.
Who will be the first country to ban fuel-burning cars: Norway, Germany, India?
You know the electric vehicle (EV) revolution is at a tipping point when German legislators of both parties vote for a resolution to ban the internal combustion engine (ICE) by 2030. After all, Germans invented the first practical motorcar and the diesel engine. They’re such a car-loving Read More...
Solar-compatible power bank can replace a generator
OutdoorsThe struggle to carry adequate portable power around with us has become a major pain point in recent years, as lifestyles become increasingly mobile. Portable battery company Jackery is taking orders for a big-time battery that it says can replace loud stinky generators when you're away Read More...
Wind power could supply 20% of the world's electricity needs by 2030
According to a new report, wind power could supply as much as 20 percent of the world’s total electricity by 2030 due to dropping prices and pledges to take climate action. China is set to quadruple wind power capacity, and more investments are being made around the world to expand wind capacity Read More...
Scientists turn carbon dioxide into ethanol, by mistake
Scientists have accidentally done something incredible. They have created a means of transforming carbon dioxide into a clean fuel called ethanol, by mistake. The ethanol produced was said to be pure, meaning there are minimum side reactions. If produced on a mass-scale, this ethanol could be used Read More...
There's now a children's book about self-driving cars
Fleets of self-driving cars used to be as about as plausible as unicorns jumping over rainbows. But with major automakers and technology companies racing to develop, test, and deploy self-driving cars to the masses, the era of autonomous vehicles suddenly seems believable. It’s possible that Read More...
Kansas town decimated by tornado now runs on 100% renewable energy
A little more than nine years ago, an EF-5 tornado ripped through Greensburg, Kansas. The massive, May 4, 2007 twister leveled the small town, and half of the town's population of 1,500 residents escaped and never came back. But from the rubble, opportunity emerged. Greensburg is now one of the Read More...
This chart shows how the renewable energy revolution keeps beating expectation
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is the world’s most prominent energy forecaster. It was established as a watchdog of the industry in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. It’s illustrative for the exponential rise of renewable energy that the IEA keeps adjusting its outlook for wind and solar Read More...
Peak oil demand is getting closer
OPEC’s decision last month to reverse its policy of unfettered production and cut oil output to boost prices may be at odds with the industry’s most important long-term trend: demand for what they produce could start falling within 15 years. If rapid improvements continue in renewable Read More...
Tesla says it hopes to work with Panasonic on solar energy
U.S. electric car maker Tesla says it plans to start working with Japanese electronics company Panasonic Corp. on solar energy. Panasonic had no immediate comment Monday on Tesla's statement on its corporate blog that the companies have signed a non-binding letter of intent to begin collaborating Read More...
Tiny microalgae could lead renewable hydrogen revolution
Despite skepticism from some quarters, it appears the hydrogen economy is beginning to take shape with accelerating speed. In the latest news, a research team at Tel Aviv University developed a way to speed up the rate of algal hydrogen production by about 400 percent. The news is significant Read More...