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.
These researchers think we’re nearing ‘peak car’
On Thursday the Rocky Mountain Institute — an energy-focused think tank known for its boldness in predicting technological change — released a truly sweeping report on the future of vehicles. And if it’s right — something that, to be sure, can be questioned — Read More...
Solar startup in Africa has a very bright future
A startup that’s helped bring solar energy to millions of customers living in off-grid areas of Africa has announced that it will be shifting their business towards larger, more powerful solar-powered gear. After successfully bringing solar lanterns to 65 million people, the startup, d.light, Read More...
New renewables outpacing rising electricity demand for the first time
For the first time ever, investment in new renewables was more than enough to cover rising global electricity demand in 2015. That’s according to the first World Energy Investment report, published by the International Energy Agency (IEA). While fossil fuels still dominate energy supplies, Read More...
Amazon doubles down on wind energy, blows off Donald Trump
The U.S. Energy Department released a new report predicting a huge drop in the cost of wind energy by 2030, but Amazon is not waiting around for that to happen. The company is already heavily invested in wind energy and just signed on to buy 90 percent of the output from a new Read More...
Apple looking to bolster car project
Apple Inc., -0.02 % which is working to build an electric car, has held talks about investing in British sports-car maker McLaren Technology Group, according to a person familiar with the matter, but McLaren denies any talks are ongoing. The person familiar with the matter said the discussions Read More...
New V-shape roof captures solar and wind energy and rain
With improved designs roofs can capture not just solar energy but also wind power as well as rain water. In a new V-shapes roof concept scientists use five different green technologies: solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines, rainwater harvesting/utilization, as well as roof sky lighting. The Read More...
Will you need a licence to operate a self-driving car?
If you're stopped by police in your self-driving vehicle, would you need to show a driver's licence? This is not a riddle, it's a legitimate question to be debated by lawmakers when they begin to address the reality of a world where not all cars and trucks have humans at the wheel. Yes, the Read More...
Obama administration: Roads will be safer with cars driven by machines, not people
For most of us, it’s still hard to imagine the world where cars are driven by computers. And that that would be a safer world. However, we are definitely going to a self-driving car reality. Here’s another big step in that direction. The Obama administration now says: “We envision in the Read More...
China embarked on wind power frenzy, says IEA
China has been building two wind turbines every hour, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has told BBC News. This is the world's biggest programme of turbine installation, double that of its nearest rival, the US. The nation’s entire annual increase in energy demand has been fulfilled from Read More...
Researchers discover more efficient way to split water, produce hydrogen
Hydrogen is often considered a fuel for the future, in the form of fuel cells to power electric motors or burned in internal combustion engines. But finding a practical, inexpensive and nontoxic way to produce large amounts of hydrogen gas – especially by splitting water into its component Read More...