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.
Insolight breaks solar cell efficiency record
Remember what happened with computer chips in the 80s? It seemed then like they got faster and cheaper every week. Breakthroughs were reported with dizzying regularity. Something similar is happening with solar cells and panels. Just last week, MIT and Masdar Institute announced they had created a Read More...
This bizarre $15,000 electric car could transform your commute
A new all-electric car just hit the market, but it looks a little different than other electric cars you can buy. Made by the Canadian company Electra Meccanica, the 2017 Solo car boasts three wheels instead of four and is built for just one passenger, hence, its name Solo. The car is not aimed at Read More...
Microscopic algae could rescue Earth from oil addiction
You could be growing your own car fuel in some scummy green tank in your living room one day, with or without engineered fluorescent fish inside. No, you wouldn't be gassing the car or powering the house with fish pee, but with hydrogen produced by engineered algae. Hydrogen is widely touted as the Read More...
Everybody needs good neighbors ... to produce renewable energy
Linda Parlane got more than energy from the sun when she installed solar panels on her roof. She harnessed the power of her community. Ms Parlane bought her solar panels back in 2009 through a bulk-buy community scheme in Coburg. She and her partner are careful about their energy use but Read More...
This electric truck that comes in a box and drives where there are no roads
Transportation is an issue in the developing world where lack of adequate infrastructure prevents the trade that generates wealth. This truck was designed by a Formula One racecar designer. It’s quite “unbreakable”, it can drive where there are (almost) no roads, it costs between $13,000 and Read More...
5 environmentally superior alternatives to batteries to store renewable energy
The battery is a key instrument in the renewable energy world. We need to store electricity as the sun and wind don’t always deliver energy. Most batteries are made from lithium and lithium mines are not exactly environmentally friendly activities. There’s another problem with batteries: They Read More...
An electric car with solar panels for self-charging and a 150-mile range
The “super plus” electric car is a car that charges itself while it’s driving. The Sion from the German startup Sono Motors has 80 square feet of solar cells that can power it up to 20 miles every day. The car is funded with crowdfunding, seats 6, has top speed of 90 miles per hour, a range Read More...
Large-scale solar to triple after what could be Arena's final renewable energy grants
A giant surge of investment in renewable energy has been sparked by what might be the last grants made by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, as the parliament is poised to cut most of its funding. Large-scale solar will triple in size, with Arena today announcing the 12 winners of its $92m in Read More...
Hundreds of mosques are going green in Morocco in a renewable energy push
Morocco’s mosques are going green in an effort to improve efficiency, promote renewable energy and create business opportunities around energy-efficient technologies. The first phase of a government-led, four-year project is expected to install energy-saving lights, and to use solar panel Read More...
How Uber And Lyft Can Fill Transit Gaps In Cities
Not long ago, it seemed that private mobility companies might swallow public transportation whole, starting with taxis before moving on to buses and trains as well. People had begun to discuss the death of transit amid evidence of lower public ridership in some cities, and the overwhelming success Read More...