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.
How autonomous cars are driving the city of the future
The idea of self-driving cars is plastered across the media. But a lot of the talk is about a futuristic, Jetson-style approach at a fairly superficial level. Some pieces go deeper, but there’s a dearth of investigation on the subject. And it’s becoming reality faster than anyone Read More...
India sees solar-based energy future that is cheaper than coal fired power
India’s energy minister Piyush Goyal embraces a renewable future. During the presentation of his new plan for renewable energy in the country, he said that energy generated from solar would now probably be cheaper than from a newly built coal plant. The plan outlines a vision for solar-based Read More...
The Netherlands moves to ban sale of fossil fueled cars by 2025
The Dutch parliament has adopted a motion to ban non-clean car sales by 2025. It stipulates that the sale of new cars on diesel or gasoline would be banned from 2025 onward, while existing fossil fuel cars would still be allowed. The motion still has to pass the Read More...
Turn your pee into power with a fuel cell
British researchers have developed a fuel cell that produces energy out of urine. The cell uses biological processes to generate electricity, and would cost only one pound sterling. The researchers see that the fuel cell could be a lifeline to people in remote areas, generating cheap, renewable and Read More...
Self-driving car completes 1,200-mile roadtrip across China
Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ford Motor Co.’s partner in China, said it completed a 1,200-mile road trip to test a self-driving car as part of its ambitions to produce highly automated vehicles by 2020. The car set off from the company’s headquarters in Chongqing and reached Read More...
Global electric car sales on the rise
After four years of steady growth, U.S. plug-in electric car sales were essentially flat last year. Low gas prices and increased demand for SUVs had a dampening effect on the segment, which still accounts for a very small fraction of U.S. new-car sales. However, in other parts of the world, it was Read More...
Will the Tesla Model 3 be the first truly self-driving car?
On the evening of March 31st, Elon Musk unveiled Tesla’s sinuous Model 3, the company’s first “affordable” electric-car model. After touting the sedan’s punchy acceleration, two-hundred-and-fifteen-mile battery range, and sweeping, seamless glass roof, he mentioned its Read More...
U.S. wind energy blew away records in 2015
U.S. wind energy output hit record levels last year, producing nearly 5 percent of the nation’s electricity, according to a new report from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Employment in the sector also rose 20 percent in 2015, with 88,000 workers now employed in wind energy Read More...
100% Renewable Electricity For South Australia By 2030, Greens Propose
If the Greens have anything to say about clean energy policies in South Australia, this land may showcase a 100% renewable electricity portfolio by 2030. According to RenewEconomy, the Greens have announced plans to have “… South Australia source 100% of its electricity needs from Read More...
The heat beneath our feet: the potential of Latin American geothermal power
Tapping into the energy that comes from the natural heat of Earth’s crust could be an efficient and affordable power source for Latin America, say experts. Technology is developing for exploring this source, which comes from the shallow ground, to hot water and hot rock found a few kilometres Read More...