Today’s Solutions: September 22, 2024

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.

Hydrogel

This gel film pulls drinking water from the air in even the driest places

Getting water to drought-stricken areas is an increasing concern for scientists. In the future, desalination systems will become simpler and more accessible to get water to those who need it, but another solution could be to just pull water right out of the air.  Engineers from the University Read More...

Cardiogram report, red decorative heart, and stethoscope on table.

Scientists use diabetes medication to treat heart disease

Our bodies have to regulate many processes daily: temperature, hydration, mineral balance, sugar levels, and many more. When these regulating processes get out of whack, this can lead to diseases and other serious health complications. This is exactly what happens in diabetes, where specialized Read More...

industrial skyline at dusk or dawn with lots of carbon emissions in the air

US injects 3.5 billion into carbon removal technologies

The US has ambitious goals to reach and maintain a net-zero economy by 2050. To get the nation closer to this objective, the US Department of Energy (DOE) is accelerating its Carbon Negative Shot initiative to facilitate the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while also driving down the Read More...

Solar panels installed on public school in the US

Pennsylvania schools doubled their solar power in the last two years

Renewable energy production is taking off in the Keystone State. A new report from the nonprofit Generation180 reveals that Pennsylvania schools doubled their solar power capacity over the last two years of the Pandemic. This helped not only the planet but also the schools' bottom line and Read More...

Highway in Chile's Atacama desert with bright blues skies

Recycled old tires could make roads last twice as long

Prolonged sun exposure is one of the main contributors to asphalt cracking. That’s because the heat from the sun dries up the road’s moisture content, making it brittle and prone to wear. A team of scientists has found that adding rubber from old tires to asphalt can help roads last twice as Read More...

Berlin public transportation

Germany slashes public transportation costs to reduce fossil fuel dependence

In the energy standoff between Europe and Russia, Germany has taken many measures to accelerate the phasing out of oil and gas. It has resolved to make energy cheaper for homes and businesses. It has pushed plans to put solar panels on every public building by 2025.  Now, Germany has cut train, Read More...

a dolphin swims up to the camera against a coral reef backdrop

Dolphins are using coral as a skin treatment

New research suggests that dolphins rub up against coral for more reasons than scratching a hard-to-reach itch. The cetaceans, which are known to rub against the rough surfaces of coral, take naps in coral beds, and enjoy soaking on sponges along the reef may actually be using the coral to treat Read More...

The collection of stamps released by the UN to celebrate the international achievements of Mars missions.

Check out these postage stamps celebrating Mars missions

More countries are operating spacecrafts on and around Mars than ever before! These important missions are revealing interesting secrets about our solar system, climate, and possibly the origins of life. To celebrate this momentous human achievement, the United Nations have honored the Red Read More...

Cooling home

Seven tips for cooling your home without AC

Many of us can already feel the heated start of Summer, along with the urge to crank up the air-conditioning. While heatstroke is a serious health concern, a whole city blasting cool air into their homes presents a threat to the power grid. Some places like Texas are already experiencing Read More...

Less TV

Keeping TV to less than an hour a day greatly reduces risk of heart disease

In the age of binge-watching, there is no shortage of good things to watch, but is watching this much TV a good thing? Besides spending too much time inside and a lack of exercise, excessively watching TV can have negative health consequences. New research shows that reducing our daily streaming Read More...