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 VEST “hackathon”: designing safety vests for everyone
Despite its importance, a lot of construction wear isn’t made for comfort, especially if you don’t have a “default male body”. With a wide range of body types in the construction industry and its growing diversity, construction wear seems to operate on a one-size-fits-all standard, even Read More...
Stanford study shows cleaner air leads to more crops
Fertile soil, good seasons, and plentiful water aren’t the only things that affect our crops. Air pollution, and one air pollutant in particular, negatively affect the number of crops we can grow. Using satellite imaging, Stanford researchers discovered just how many nitrogen oxides affect Read More...
Biologists uncover secrets of parachuting salamanders
A recent study published in Current Biology sheds light on a peculiar adaptation of California’s wandering salamanders, Aneides vagrans. These amphibians are commonly associated with streams, rocks, and decaying logs. The wandering salamander, however, is commonly found in trees and even jumping Read More...
New device helps protect endangered whales from crashing into ships
North Atlantic right whale populations used to thrive in the ocean. As of 2021, though, approximately 300 right whales remain in the wild, a steep drop from 480 right whales counted in 2011. Reasons for the decline of the right whale population include entanglement in fishing nets, habitat loss, Read More...
Gene therapy could effectively treat chronic pain from spinal injuries
Gene therapy is a growing field of medicine with enormous treatment potential for many currently incurable diseases. Scientists have so far created gene therapies to tackle a range of diseases, including the leading cause of blindness, sickle cell anemia, and a range of rare genetic Read More...
British Columbia decriminalizes small amounts of drugs to reduce deaths
Opioid-related deaths linked to fentanyl have more than doubled in Canada over the last five years. British Columbia has been one the hardest-hit regions, with deaths spiking during the Pandemic, and has asked for federal permission to decriminalize drugs. The government is now launching an Read More...
Scientists discover world’s largest plant off Australian coast
General Sherman is the largest tree in the world. It’s a giant sequoia in Sequoia National Park standing at 275 feet, nearly the length of a football field. It turns out, though, that General Sherman isn’t the biggest plant on earth. Scientists have discovered a patch of seagrass off the Read More...
Study suggests lower risk of early death for coffee drinkers
The United States drinks around 517 million cups of coffee every day. While caffeine can be a tough habit to kick, researchers are finding more and more health benefits to coffee. Health advantages range from reduced risk of heart attacks to treatment for ADHD. Now, researchers in China found Read More...
New study sniffs out cause of parosmia, disordered smells
What’s your favorite smell? Is it the whiff of freshly ground coffee in the morning or blossoms in spring? Whatever it may be, imagine a world where this sense is distorted and sometimes disturbing. This is the reality for people living with parosmia, a disease that can turn the smell of freshly Read More...
Chicago Connected gave internet to 64,000 children in need
When the Pandemic hit and students went home for school, many lower-income families were disadvantaged due to a lack of reliable internet. In Chicago, many students in lower-income neighborhoods couldn’t get their work done, so the city decided to take action. In March 2020, the city started Read More...