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.
The key to cheap electric cars? Ditch the steering wheel
Mark Frohmayer loves to drive. But he’s never quite been able to square that passion with his environmental concerns. He just found the idea of using a gas-powered, two-ton contraption to carry a single person a few miles each day absurd. Eight years ago—before the Tesla Roadster hit Read More...
Kites can harness energy where wind turbines can't
Windmills have been providing power to the world for ages but they have always had one limitation: height. The higher the altitude, the stronger and more consistent the wind is, which is why Italian company Kitenergy has developed technology that harnesses the power of the wind from a kite flying Read More...
Urban waste In Africa offers large source of electricity
For renewable energy researchers in Europe, now is the time to look closely at what is happening with waste in Africa. The estimated electricity production from the total waste generated in Africa could reach 122.2 TWh in 2025, reports the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). This kind Read More...
Volvo's first fully electric car will arrive in 2019
Volvo's been bullish about self-driving vehicles, but it's much more coy when it comes to electric cars. The company's latest XC90 has a hybrid edition, and there's an existing V60 plug-in, but nothing fully electric. Finally, the Swedish auto-maker is ready to go all in, confirming an all-electric Read More...
Toyota wants gasoline cars to go the way of the dinosaurs
I seem to recall a period not that long ago when one’s worth was dependent on the size of one’s wheels. Bush was in office, Kid Rock topped the charts, and electric cars were about as common as unicorns. In those dark times of giant, gas-guzzling SUVs, otherwise decent humans drove Read More...
Volkswagen is going electric to overcome diesel scandal
Analysts believe Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal will speed up the transition to electric cars. Volkswagen is betting on that too. That’s why the German automaker is making a quick U-turn from diesel and going full throttle to further develop its own hybrid and electric cars to save its Read More...
Ethiopia aims for economic growth while becoming climate neutral
It's often said that going carbon neutral is only an option for countries that are rich enough to afford it. Well, Ethiopia seems to show it's an option for one of the poorest nations too. Unlike many of its sub-Saharan neighbors, which have embraced economic growth at the expense of environmental Read More...
Australia’s energy future could be network of renewable micro-grids
Australia’s energy markets are on the cusp of rapid change, but it is not just the prospect of individuals quitting the grid that represents the biggest challenge to industry incumbents: it’s the possible defection of whole towns and communities. The creation of micro-grids is seen by Read More...
The US is about to hit a big solar energy milestone
The United States is on track to hit a big number in renewable energy: More than 1 million American homes should have solar panels by February 2016. While solar still makes up a tiny part of the sliver of renewables that power the US, it has increased exponentially in the past decade. And the solar Read More...
A new breakthrough with solar energy cells could make them cheaper and more effective
A new breakthrough in solar energy has the potential to make it cheaper and more viable as a source of renewable energy, according to researchers at Lund University and Uppsala University in Sweden.Historically, developing solar energy cells was a fairly expensive process because they needed to use Read More...