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.
As prices plunge, Africa surges into clean, cheap solar energy
Until almost two years ago, James Mbugua, a farmer living in Karai, a village on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital, relied on kerosene to light his house, and a car battery to power his television so he wouldn't miss the news. Part of the reason he couldn't plug into the power grid, despite Read More...
Researchers scale clean hydrogen production with genetically-modified algae
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have genetically modified algae in a way that could enable it to be used to mass-produce hydrogen on an industrial scale, which is big news, considering 90 percent of hydrogen produced in the U.S currently comes from fossil fuels. Natural algae can produce small Read More...
Sweden's Uniti short-range city EV successfully navigates crowdfunding route
Urban TransportLessening range anxiety is a priority for many electric vehicle manufacturers, but others are steering into the skid with small EVs designed for short-range city driving, such as the Renault Twizy and the Microlino. Joining them is the Swedish startup Uniti, which has just hit its Read More...
Israel to boost solar energy production
Following a two-year freeze on any new solar energy development, the Public Utility Authority said Monday it will issue more than 1,000 megawatts of fresh quotas.The new power is being authorized to ensure that Israel achieves its goals of making 10% of the country’s electricity supply Read More...
Half of Scotland’s energy could be produced by renewables
Half of all the energy used in Scotland could be produced by renewable technology in less than 15 years, according to a new report. It painted a picture of a country that exports vast amounts of electricity to the rest of the UK by producing 40 per cent more than it needs, where half of the buses Read More...
Germany wants to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2030
A move to ban the sale of gas-powered cars has been a major topic of discussion for both the Dutch and Norwegian government, and now Germany’s upper house of parliament has gained approval to push a Europe-wide mandate to stop gas-powered car sales by 2030. Germany’s upper house is influential Read More...
The next step in the sharing economy: Renting your car to a stranger
If you can make some extra money by renting your home to a stranger (Airbnb), why wouldn’t you rent your car when you are not using it? Thousands of car owners across Europe today use peer-to-peer rental sites to make their car ownership more affordable. The services, including Read More...
The future belongs to clean energy
As we close out a summer marked by uncertainty in news and events, one trend for which analysts voice increasing certainty is the accelerating pace of the clean-energy transformation reshaping how the world generates electricity. With increasing speed, global energy markets are turning away from Read More...
New 'smart textiles' can produce and store solar energy
Why lug around a portable battery pack when you could generate that power with your own clothing? That's the idea behind new "smart" fibers that can be tailored and woven like cotton — but also produce and store solar energy, like tiny clean power plants. The early-stage textile device could Read More...
No red and blue divide when it comes to renewable energy innovation and CO2 rules
Regular readers may recall my 2013 post describing how “energy agreement” is often “hidden by climate disputes” — drawing on data from a sustained survey by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University Center for Read More...