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.
The real reason behind why cats freak out over catnip
Cats’ reaction to catnip - and its Asian counterpart silvervine - is truly a sight to be seen. Our household pets start aggressively rolling, rubbing, chewing, and licking it like they have been possessed by these plants' taste and aroma. A team from Iwate University has recently published a Read More...
The shape of flowers reduces parasites transmitted to bumblebees
Bumblebees are furry and critical pollinators that are sadly vulnerable to many things such as heat and predators. Another thing that affects their populations that we can keep an eye out for in our gardens is parasites. Recent research from North Carolina State University showed that the Read More...
This LEGO-like computer chip has so many applications!
A team of researchers from MIT has recently designed a LEGO-like computer chip. Designing the technology in this stackable manner allows for the creation of reconfigurable AI equipment with a huge range of uses. “You can add as many computing layers and sensors as you want, such as for light, Read More...
Google Cloud impressively calculates the first 100 trillion digits of pi
Thousands of years ago, the irrational number pi, with infinite digits, was discovered. Back in 2019, Google Cloud calculated pi out to an impressive 31.4 trillion digits, setting the world record. Then, last year scientists from the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons broke that Read More...
Boston e-scooter company soon to unveil safer model
While shared electric scooters have boomed over the last few years, there remain many concerns about their safety. Scooter-related injuries have become so common that some law firms offer legal action against scooter manufacturers on their websites. Some cities like Miami and New York have kicked Read More...
Monarch butterflies are bouncing back
The number of monarch butterflies across North America has long been thought to be declining. Previously, scientists have thoroughly researched the winter behavior of these insects which led to this unfortunate conclusion. Therefore, even though no studies have been carried out on monarch Read More...
Radio waves can more reliably protect our data
Hardware is the technical term for the tangible components of an electronic device, including a computer monitor, scanner, keyboard, or mouse. Hardware can be subjected to attacks that are a severe risk to data security and allows the attacker to gain information - such as credit card details, Read More...
The environmentally friendly, flying ships of the future
These days, electric cars, bikes, scooters, trams, and trains are common modes of transport. However, one mode of transport which hasn’t got the electric memo is ferries, which are still almost exclusively powered by fossil fuels. The problematic factor here is battery capacity, which cannot last Read More...
Researchers could predict heart attacks with an eye exam
In a study presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics, researchers explained how they combined clinical factors with an eye exam to predict patients’ likelihood of a heart attack. Researchers used medical and lifestyle data from 500,000 people from the UK Read More...
“Digital twin” of Ithaca, NY helps to plot climate ambitions
In 2019, Ithaca, New York was the first US city to resolve to eliminate or offset all carbon emissions by 2030. The college town allocated $100 million to fund the effort, but they still needed a plan of how to decarbonize all its buildings. Two architectural professors from Cornell University Read More...