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.
Dropping prices for renewables makes transitioning from coal a bargain
When Oregon passed legislation that requires utilities to stop generating electricity from coal by 2030, utility company Pacific Power claimed the switch to renewable energy would skyrocket the price of electricity. Clean energy project developers came out with a report that suggests otherwise, Read More...
Growing number of firms back electric fleet transition
Go Ultra Low Company announces over 60 organisations have now committed make at least five per cent of their fleets electric by 2020 Transport for London (TfL) and the University of Cambridge are among 65 public and private sector organisations that have pledged to promote the adoption of electric Read More...
Audi has come up with a suspension system that turns rough roads into electricity
Engineers at Audi have created a prototype shock absorber that would give you a new appreciation for bumpy roads. Dubbed the ‘eROT,’ this shock absorber generates kinetic energy generated by the movement of the car’s suspension while making the ride much smoother. With each little movement, Read More...
Elon Musk wants to make your roof entirely out of solar panels
Instead of installing solar panels on top of roofs, why don’t we just construct rooftops made out of solar panels? During SolarCity’s latest earnings call, Elon Musk unveiled that his company is developing a “solar roof” that would utilize every inch of space to produce energy for the home Read More...
China's LeEco to invest $1.8 billion in electric car factory
China's Le Holdings Co Ltd, also known as LeEco, said on Wednesday it would invest 12 billion yuan ($1.8 billion) to build an electric car plant in eastern China with eventual annual production capacity of 400,000 cars. The company said in a statement its first China factory would be built in two Read More...
At long last, the Hydrogen Highway may soon be here
Stephen Beatty was looking through some old papers not long ago and found a report prepared for then-prime minister Joe Clark on Canada’s hydrogen-powered future. “It talked of the hydrogen economy being only 25 years away,” Toyota Canada’s vice-president says. “That Read More...
Scotland just generated more electricity through wind power than the country needs
For the first time on record, wind turbines have generated more electricity than was used in the whole of Scotland on a single day. An analysis by conservation group WWF Scotland found unseasonably stormy weather saw turbines create about 106 per cent of the total amount of electricity Read More...
Massachusetts goes all in for offshore wind
America’s offshore wind industry has received a major boost with a Massachusetts law that requires utilities to procure a combined 1,600 megawatts of electricity from offshore wind farms in a little over 10 years. The legislation will make Massachusetts the largest producer of offshore wind in Read More...
Pay-as-you-go plans bring affordable clean energy to rural Zimbabwe
In rural Zimbabwe where many have no access to electricity, solar schemes are starting to bring clean energy to communities of people at a low cost. The average person earns between $20 and $100 a month, which isn’t enough to purchase a $500 solar system to power their home along with other Read More...
Study: Solar industry can provide employment for coal workers
Politicians and governments are used to face a big challenge: New technologies need to replace old ones to make the economy cleaner and more efficient. However, saying goodbye to old technologies means laying off workers. The massive transition from a fossil-fuel-based energy economy to one using Read More...