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 best time to be alive and how technology will make it even better
“This is the best time ever to be alive,” says Peter Diamandis, co-founder and Chairman of Singularity University—a university in California that aims to change the world through technology. Today there is a longer life expectancy, better quality of life, and less poverty than the world has Read More...
6 unusual places to find solar power
2014 was the best-ever year for solar energy in the US. The photovoltaic capacity grew with 30% according to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research. Despite this boom solar produces still less than 1% of total US electricity. Room for growth. Marketwatch put together a Read More...
Futuristic self-driving Mercedes spotted on San Francisco streets
It starts becoming a regular feature in the streets of San Francisco: driverless cars. Google is known to test their autonomous electric cars in the city. But the Google cars are regular cars, like Toyota Priuses, with a kind of radar on their roof. But here’s something very different: a Read More...
Solar plane takes off for flight around the world
The introduction of new technologies is often speeded up through adventurers who with their daring attempts spark the imagination that fuels development. Charles Lindbergh made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Now two Swiss pilots hope to encourage the replacement of “old Read More...
A road map to a world without fossil fuels in 2050
We know we have to move from our dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. And despite the well-funded fossil fuel lobby, we also know that it can be done now, with existing technology and within current government budgets. Arbtech is a UK agency that provides ecological surveys. They Read More...
Google wants to help you switch to solar
Last week Google announced another large—$300 million to be exact—investment in SolarCity. Now Google also wants to pay for you to switch to solar. The first step is for you to own a house. Then you contact SolarCity and they work out a custom solar arrangement for your roof—Google pays for Read More...
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...