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.
Robot helps plants follow the sun
Some plants prefer the sun, some prefer shade, and some prefer both but at different times of the day. Who has time to move their plants around the house, optimizing sun exposure? No one. That’s why two artists from Perdue University created the Soybot, a planter box on a small mobile robot that Read More...
Eiffel Tower turns into windmill
The most iconic landmark in France has been retrofitted with two sizable wind turbines that will be used to power the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, where commercial areas operate. The two turbines are located about 400 feet up the tower and generate about 10,000 kWh annually. The turbines are Read More...
Treatment method cuts biofuel production cost by 30 percent
Biofuels, much like solar in the 90s, has to overcome the high cost of production, and increase its efficiency so that it is more viable for commercial use. Researchers from California have now created a new pre-treatment method that greatly reduces the cost of production. Biofuel is created when Read More...
App connects consumers with likeminded businesses
Most of us want to avoid companies that practice child labor, don’t pay their workers livable wages, and don’t conduct trade fairly. But how do we know which businesses should get our patronage and which should be picketed against? Aside from extensive online research, making this call has been Read More...
Around the world race without fossil fuels
Innovations in renewable technologies are made regularly but many are proof-of-concept models, and aren’t commercially viable or scalable. A new type of race is being planned to push many of these new technologies through the prototype phase and into the hands and homes of consumers around the Read More...
Drone hobbyist help disaster relief
The potential for drones to help with disaster relief is quickly being realized. UAViators is calling any drone hobbyist willing to use their flying abilities to help first responders speed up the time it takes to find victims in a disaster. Drones would be used to capture aerial images to quickly Read More...
Mobile game saves energy
Often we talk about the need to cut emissions that should be driven by regulations set in place by policy makers. Rarely do we place the blame on our own shoulders when the facts are undeniable: 38 percent of greenhouse emissions come from people wasting energy. With that in mind game developers Read More...
Partial liver transplants show promise
Right now there are about 15,000 people in the US who need a liver transplant. Annually only about 6,000 livers are donated at the cost of around $300,000 each. They’re expensive and rare, but a new procedure that only replaces part of the liver is showing promise. Basically the new process adds Read More...
Bacteria creates fuel from sunlight
Scientists from Harvard University have created a system, dubbed the ‘bionic leaf’, that splits water molecules into its base hydrogen and oxygen atoms, then uses bacteria to create a liquid fuel, called isopropanol, a versatile fuel that can be used as a propellant. The way it works it after a Read More...
Blood tests with a smartphone in 15 minutes
Blood tests can take weeks to get results, and the equipment to conduct the tests costs upwards of $18,000—but that all will soon be changing. Scientists from Columbia University have invented a smart phone attachment that can be powered by any headphone jack and diagnoses HIV and syphilis in 15 Read More...