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.
This Danish power plant will poetically inform residents of how much carbon they’re using
In less than a decade, Copenhagen expects to become the first carbon-neutral city on the planet. There are plenty of reminders around the Danish capital to will the locals towards achieving a zero-carbon future by 2025: a 20-turbine wind farm, half of its population zipping around in bikes (and an Read More...
New Record-Breaking Solar Device Could Be Game-Changer for Powering Homes
Researchers at Monash University have designed a solar fuel generating device that has established a new record in energy efficiency for the production of solar fuels. The new device can produce hydrogen fuel at 22 percent energy efficiency, breaking the previous record of 18 percent. Lead Read More...
Windows can harvest solar energy to power your house
Waking up to the sunlight shining through your window will give you an extra reason to feel good in the morning. Thanks to a new luminescent solar concentrator, gleaming sunlight can now be harvested into energy that could turn any window into a daytime power source. These new windows can become Read More...
Batteries will do to energy what cellphones did to telecom: Advanced microgrid & Tesla
Cheap battery storage will prove as disruptive to the energy industry as the cellphone has been to telecommunications, executives from two California startups—Tesla Energy and Advanced Microgrid Solutions—said today at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas. “I would bet Read More...
Renewables cover almost 100% of German demand
Almost 100% of the electricity demand in Germany noon last Sunday was covered by PV and wind power. According to the evaluation by the forum "Together against interim storage, and for responsible energy politics" the PV plants at noon produced more than 24 GW of solar power. Wind power contributed Read More...
2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car runs on...leftover lemonade? Huh?
As part of its promotional efforts for the 2016 Toyota Mirai fuel-cell car, the company has been working to demonstrate the myriad ways it says hydrogen can be extracted from the environment in a sustainable way. RELATED: Second Toyota Mirai Video: Hydrogen Is Like First Oil Well The latest video Read More...
The best used car bargains now are EVs and hybrids
Used vehicle sales are soaring these days, and so are their prices. Though it tends to counter the conventional wisdom that only highly valued collectible cars ever increase in value, Edmunds.com reports that used car prices jumped by 7.6 percent in the second quarter of 2015 to reach a record Read More...
Total divestment: French energy giant ditches coal
It’s not been a great year for the world’s coal giants. We’re hearing that China is using less coal and the value of their shares has plummeted. Now one of the world’s biggest energy companies has given up on producing coal altogether. Total SA, the French oil company and Read More...
Uber will partner with University of Arizona for self-driving car research
Uber is setting up a new self-driving car project at the University of Arizona, according to an email sent out today to university employees. The new project will focus on self-driving car technology, particularly the mapping and optics challenges involved in developing a fully autonomous vehicle. Read More...
White House aims to boost homeowner renewable energy use
The White House on Monday expanded its push for greater renewable energy adoption, announcing fresh financial incentives for solar panels, smart grid technology and other alternative energies for homeowners and builders. President Barack Obama will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada later on Monday to Read More...