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.
Falling oil prices won’t impact rise of renewables
With the falling oil prices recently many are wondering if this will derail all the progress that has been made toward renewable energy sources—it won’t, and here’s why: Renewables mostly compete with coal-fired power plants for electricity generation. The price of coal has fallen in recent Read More...
Australia sets solar energy record
The efficiency of most solar panels averages between 10 and 15 percent with conversion records hitting around 35 percent. So it’s big news when a team of Australian scientists reports a 40.4 percent conversion efficiency by using commercially available solar cells combined with a mirror and Read More...
Aerodynamic trucks would save billions of gallons of diesel
Energy saving is good business. Take the trucks that carry the majority of freight around the United States. Two million tractor-trailer trucks burn about 36 billion gallons of diesel per year. Researchers have discovered that if 18-wheelers retrofit trailer skirts along the bottom sides of trucks, Read More...
The dawn of efficient, clean and connected micropower
Fossil fuel, coal and nuclear energy driven power plants not only are a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions, they are also quite inefficient. A lot of power—up to 20 percent—is lost in the long distance distribution from these big plants to the end user. This is why microgrids are quickly Read More...
Farmers discover new cash crop: Renewable energy
In the fields of eastern Iowa the same Amish families have tended the land for centuries. Amish like to be independent. That’s why they like—off the grid—renewable energy. Many are joining the new tariff programs that are popping up from Pennsylvania to Washington that allow farmers to trade Read More...
China’s central bank urges support for carbon-cutting industries
Following the deal hashed out earlier this month between China and the US to cut carbon emissions, China’s central bank has called on banks and businesses in the nation to back industries that will reduce CO2 emissions. The most polluted country in the world aims to cap all carbon emissions and Read More...
Largest solar plant opens in US
The largest solar plant in the world opened in the US and is now 100 percent operational. The plant, called Topaz, is located in California and is truly massive in size and energy output. Topaz produces over 500-megawatts—enough energy to power 160,000 homes—spans over nine square miles and is Read More...
World bank focuses on renewables to fight poverty
Ahead of next month’s UN Climate Summit in Peru, the World Bank has announced it will only invest in renewable energy sources, unless there are “circumstances of extreme need” where a country needs power from conventional sources. World Bank argues that the radical policy shift is necessary Read More...
Solar packs provide power for studying at night
In the developing world when nighttime comes it gets really dark. Without proper means for lighting, children who study at night can fall victim to premature vision loss—if they can study at all. Repurpose creates book bags out of completely recycled material with a solar panel on top to harness Read More...
Free heating for housing this company’s servers
Winter is here—ok, it’s still fall but it’s getting cold, fast. If you’re prepared for your utilities bill to spike during winter months, there is an alternative: House cloud servers. Cloud&Heat is offering to provide free heat and hot water in exchange for you to house their Read More...