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.
This U.S. town plans to disconnect from the grid and go 100% renewables
Nassau, New York, a town of 5,000 people just outside of Albany, New York, plans to disconnect from the electrical grid. Last week, the town board voted to get 100 percent of its power from renewables by 2020. The town is making the move both as a way to "increase its reliance on renewable sources Read More...
One of the main arguments against windfarms has been proven false
Opponents of wind farms have long argued that the sight of turbines on the horizon damages tourism. If this sounds like nonsense, that’s because it is, according to a new study. This argument has actually succeeded in halting the construction of wind farms in the past, but a new study finds that Read More...
Storage can replace gas in our electricity networks and boost renewables
Energy storage could replace peak gas in our electricity network. That’s the finding of a study that my colleagues and I recently published in the Journal of Applied Energy. Energy storage is often considered the holy grail of the electricity sector. Tesla’s Powerwall home battery Read More...
New technology uses photosynthesis to turn carbon dioxide into fuel
Carbon dioxide is a problem; the source of global warming. Right? Yes. But CO2 can also be a solution. Researchers have created a technology that mimics a plant’s ability to inhale carbon dioxide and, with water, convert it into glucose and oxygen. In the process, a synthetic fuel is created Read More...
Polish electric car producer on horizon?
As I just wrote, two Polish cities (Kraków and Wrocław, where I live) are each planning to launch 200-car electric carsharing programs. Furthermore, a startup is aiming to launch electric carsharing in Poznan, Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Tricity, and Łódź; and Read More...
Tesla Motors and SolarCity reach deal to merge
Elon Musk took another step in combining his electric-car company with his solar-energy company, announcing on Monday that the two had reached a $2.6 billion agreement. Independent members of both boards approved a deal in which the car company, Tesla Motors, will acquire SolarCity for stock, Read More...
Salt, not batteries, is the solution to our energy storage needs
In the desert of Nevada stands the most advanced solar power plant in the world that has solved the greatest predicament that comes with harnessing the power of the sun: energy storage. Within a tower surrounded by ten thousand silvery glass panes is a mixture of potassium and sodium nitrate that Read More...
Mercedes debuts world's first fully electric big rig
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the world's first big rig that drives without a drop of fuel. The new Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck has an electrically driven rear axle and is powered by three lithium-ion battery modules. The zero-emission vehicle has an admissible total weight of up to 26 tonnes with a Read More...
"Australia's use of coal is falling and that is not a bad thing"
Australia’s new environment and energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, says coal will be a declining part of Australia’s energy mix because of inexorable market forces – but he insists the Coalition’s much criticised Direct Action policy is up to the mark, and will allow Read More...
Water: America's largest renewable source is only getting bigger
Hydropower may not get as much attention as solar and wind get, but it’s actually America’s single largest renewable energy source. Hydropower currently produces six percent of the total energy needs of the U.S., and there is much potential to increase the electricity-generating capacity as a Read More...