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.
Chile has so much solar energy, it's giving it away for free
Chile’s solar industry has expanded so quickly that it’s giving electricity away for free. Spot prices reached zero in parts of the country on 113 days through April, a number that’s on track to beat last year’s total of 192 days, according to Chile’s central grid Read More...
New report shows renewable energy records in 2015
Worldwide investment and implementation of clean energy hit records last year, according to new statistics. Some 147 Gigawatts of renewable electricity came online in 2015—the largest annual increase ever and as much as Africa’s entire power generating capacity. Clean energy investment Read More...
Algae can fuel planes, feed people and fight climate change
Algae will be a big part of any sustainable future. It absorbs carbon dioxide, like plants. It can survive in saltwater and wastewater, saving freshwater resources for human needs. It can be cultivated in shallow pools built and maintained in regions spare of farmable land. It grows quickly, needs Read More...
Google’s self-driving cars will be able to take over from human drivers at the push of a button
For anyone driving long distances, cruise control is fantastic. Pressing a button, letting go of the accelerator, and focusing on the road ahead makes long drives a little more bearable. According to a new patent published today, Google wants to make self-driving cars just as simple to use. The Read More...
Investment in energy storage vital for renewable energy success
A new report has concluded that investment in energy storage technology is vital for the success of renewable energy and its full integration into the energy sector. According to a new study published by researchers from the University of East Anglia (UAE), government subsidies should be used so as Read More...
New solar cell breaks efficiency ceiling, theory goes out window
If you thought the upper limit of solar cell efficiency was 32 percent in April, think again in May. Last week, MIT News reported on a research team that demonstrated how a silicon solar cell could top the theoretical limit of 32 percent. See you later, Shockley-Queisser Limit, and don’t let Read More...
China Is Going Solar In A Big Way
China is investing in solar in a big way, which is great news for the rest of us. China is a nation of 1.36 billion souls, so even though it has only just passed Germany (population 81.6 million) in terms of installed solar capacity, it’s easily on track to leave it in the dust. According to Read More...
Baking bread and roasting peanuts with solar energy in Africa
Solar energy is the backbone of the clean energy future, and it mostly comes through solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays, which produce electricity for homes and businesses. However, in the developing world solar PV is more often still an expensive solution. Solar energy can also directly produce heat Read More...
Japanese engineers plan to introduce flying car at 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Haven’t you thought about it when you were stuck in an endless traffic jam: The flying car. That dream is fast becoming a reality. AeroMobil, a Slovakian company, which unveiled a prototype in 2014, while Terrafugia in the U.S. is aiming to complete its TF-X flying vehicle by 2018. Read More...
No more batteries: Electric cars charged wirelessly by the roads they drive on
Electric cars are the solution for air pollution in cities. But they need batteries that, so far, limit their radius and they are heavy and expensive. But what if the street provides electricity for the car to run? We are familiar with street cars or trams that are powered by cables. The next step Read More...