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.
Solar up, coal down: U.S. shakes up energy supply
Solar power capacity in the U.S. will have nearly tripled in size in less than three years by 2017, amid an energy shakeup that has seen natural gas solidify its position as the country’s chief source of electricity and coal power continue to fade, according to monthly data published by the Read More...
Business travelers now use ride-sharing services more than taxis and rental cars
For the first time in the third quarter of 2016, in the U.S. a majority of business travelers was choosing ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft over traditional taxis and rental cars combined. The statistics come from am expense report software company. The company processes 10 million ground Read More...
'Olli' bus races ahead of Uber and Google
Self-driving bus will see commercial launch within a year The design could be used for public transport, cargo and emergency services (CNN)Self-driving cars are unlikely to reach the public until the next decade, but a self-driving bus will be serving - and talking to - US citizens within a year. Read More...
Europe's offshore wind industry booming as costs fall
On a sunny October morning, our boat passes the run-down relicts of Liverpool’s maritime past and heads down the river Mersey and into the Irish Sea. As we steam offshore, I see in the distance a cluster of tall structures that soon reveal themselves to be towers of a wind turbine array. Read More...
The next big renewable energy source could be right beneath your feet
Flooring can be made from any number of sustainable materials, making it an eco-friendly option in homes and businesses alike. Now, however, flooring could be even more "green," thanks to an inexpensive, simple method developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison materials engineers that allows them Read More...
This nuclear fusion reactor may lead us to unlimited clean energy
In Southern France, thirty-five countries are working together to change the future of energy. At an estimated cost of $20 billion, the world’s first large-scale nuclear fusion reactor is being built to help harness the “ultimate green energy”. Nuclear fusion occurs when atoms’ collide into Read More...
Elon Musk says Tesla will have fully autonomous cars by the end of 2017
Elon Musk wants you to take your hands off the wheel, foot off the gas, and let him do the driving. Rather, let his cars take over. Tonight, at a press conference, he announced that every new Tesla will be fully capable of driving itself. After being upgraded with a suite of cameras and sensors, Read More...
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...