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.
Why is high intensity interval training (or HIIT) so good for you? An expert explains
In recent years, interval training has taken off, with many gyms and online workout apps offering high-intensity interval training (or HIIT) sessions or videos. These short, high-energy sessions involve pushing yourself hard until you reach as close to your peak heart rate as you can for Read More...
Successful treatment with mice shows promise of new spinal injury drug
Spinal cord injuries can be debilitating and change a person’s life with a partial or full loss of movement. In the US, there are an estimated 17,500 new spinal cord injuries every year, and there are currently no mainstream ways to reverse these injuries. Researchers at the University of Read More...
Scallop-attracting LED “disco” lights lead to more eco-friendly fishing technique
Marine scientists have accidentally stumbled upon an unexpected technique for catching scallops that has the potential to reduce some of the environmental damage caused by conventional fishing practices. Dr. Rob Enever, a specialist in reducing the impacts of fishing on the marine environment, Read More...
Flow batteries could help with renewable energy storage
The generation of renewable energy from sources like wind and solar is one thing, but there are many other factors to consider when delivering renewable energy to consumers. A big one is the issue of storage. One Oregon startup, ESS Tech Inc. is fixing this problem with its flow Read More...
Redwoods grow new leaves to adapt to drought
We’re doing a lot to adapt to climate change, from creating tree cities and sponge cities to speeding up the schedule for renewable energy. As it turns out, though, humans aren’t the only ones getting ready and adapting to a changing climate. California’s iconic redwoods have started Read More...
OnePower: bringing minigrids and power to Lesotho
A key aspect of helping the developing world is not only ensuring that they have sufficient power and infrastructure to run key facilities like schools and hospitals. It is also important to ensure that their energy infrastructure is resilient and, hopefully, runs on renewable energy. This is Read More...
This smart skin is more sensitive than your fingertip
Nature has done an excellent job at creating the human's largest sensory organ, the skin, which allows us to feel heat, pressure, and humidity. However, a research lab at the Institute of Solid State Physics in TU Graz has invented a smart skin that can do all this and more, going above and beyond Read More...
New immunotherapy drug combo slows liver cancer growth in mice
There is something of an art to the science of medicine. We’ve all heard that everyone’s different, and so is their biology. Sometimes, developing the right treatment for a patient’s condition takes dedicated and creative trial and error with their doctor, and finding the right combination of Read More...
How a century-old cargo schooner is bringing back emissions-free shipping
The shipping industry is responsible for 2.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions — putting about 940 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. Before 1960, however, when containerization started to take off, cargo schooners were transporting goods around the world Read More...
Engineering students create Tastee Tape—edible tape to keep burritos secure
Do you love burritos but don’t have the restaurant-grade wrapping skills to, you know, keep it together? A group of Maryland college students has come up with a deliciously ingenious solution: edible burrito tape. Student Erin Walsh, a member of the all-woman team of Johns Hopkins University Read More...