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.
Nissan adds more range to Leaf electric car
2016 Nissan Leaf keeps the same look, but has a higher battery capacity(Photo: John Murphy, Image Provided by John Murphy Ph) Nissan is turning over a new Leaf, giving more range to a version of its pioneering electric car. Now the 2016 Leaf will have a range of 107 miles per battery charge, an Read More...
State-owned China automaker teams with U.S. electric-car startup Atieva
One of China's largest state-owned automakers said Thursday it has opened a technology research center in California's Silicon Valley and is teaming with U.S. electric-car startup Atieva to develop EVs for China and global markets. Beijing Electric Vehicle Co, an affiliate of government-owned BAIC Read More...
Honda gets California approval for self-driving cars on roads
Honda Motor Co Ltd has received a permit from the state of California to drive its autonomous vehicles on public streets, joining companies ranging from Google Inc to Volkswagen AG in testing the fast-growing technology. The California Department of Motor Vehicles on its website listed Honda as the Read More...
Solar energy is poised for yet another record year
The U.S. solar industry is on course for a new growth record in 2015, according to a new report that finds that solar photovoltaic installations now exceed 20 gigawatts in capacity and could surpass an unprecedented 7 gigawatts this year alone across all segments. A gigawatt is equivalent to 1 Read More...
People love renewable energy, so why don't politicians get it?
Robin Hood: one of Britain’s best-loved folk heroes. He speaks to our national love of subverting the rules. Fighting against institutional injustice, he protected the most vulnerable from the predatory practices of a corrupt establishment. Nottingham city council’s new not-for-profit energy Read More...
Lightweight solar cells draw inspiration from Japanese art and move with the sun
When solar cells converge with the Japanese paper art form of kirigami, the result is something beautiful. The combination of the two creates light-weight state-of-the-art solar cells that can track the sun, capturing up to 40 percent more energy than conventional solar cells. While solar panels Read More...
The world's biggest automakers think that humans will always want to drive their own cars
Silicon Valley seems to think that the march to self-driving vehicles is inexorable, but the carmaking industry’s biggest players are betting that most drivers prefer to keep their hands on the wheel. According to one estimate, self-driving technology in cars may grow into a $42 billion Read More...
Ocean waves may hold secret to efficient renewable energy
As the demand for renewable wind and solar energy steadily increases, the need to reduce the cost and extend the life of renewable energy storage batteries becomes even greater. By getting back to the basics, a University of Cincinnati quantum chemistry researcher looks at how water and other Read More...
The inevitable solar-powered march of the hydrogen fuel cell
Researchers at Rice University are on to a relatively simple, low-cost way to get pry hydrogen loose from water, using the sun as an energy source. The new system involves channeling high-energy “hot” electrons into a useful purpose before they get a chance to cool down. If the research Read More...
Toyota presents world’s first mass produced hydrogen-powered car
After two decades of research, the Toyota Mirai—which means future in Japanese—has arrived. It’s the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-powered car and it has the potential to propel the automotive industry into a new direction. Like Tesla and many other new models, the Mirai has an Read More...