Today’s Solutions: November 14, 2024

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.

Tropical fish swimming next to a colorful a coral reef

How a group of islanders is using AI to save coral reefs

Coral reefs are some of the planet’s most biodiverse ecosystems, providing not only a key habitat for many species of marine life but also a crucial source of income for many coastal communities worldwide. These lush and vibrant ecosystems, however, are also greatly threatened by a number of Read More...

Scientists wear blue gloves hold the molecular structure model will provide 3D arrangement of the atoms at chemistry laboratory for drug design.

Infrared light can discern the safety of "twisted" drugs

Did you know that molecules twist? Certain drugs and supplements indicate which way the molecules in the product twist, with an L or a D before the names, indicating either a twist clockwise or counterclockwise. There is usually a specific kind of twist the human body wants depending on the Read More...

Shoulder pain management

Study shows CBD can treat shoulder surgery pain

Not long ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved Cannabidiol (CBD) products for certain uses. CBD has really struck many as a wonder substance, providing many therapeutic properties and few side-effects that we know of. Its popularity quickly outran its ability to be regulated, and Read More...

Whales Iceland

As Iceland’s whaling industry decreases, its whale-watching increases

It’s nice when the economically responsible thing to do is also the right thing to do. Iceland announced in February its intentions to end whaling by 2024 because demand for whale meat has decreased significantly.  “There is little proof that there is any economic advantage to this Read More...

Exoplanet in deep space. Elements of this image were furnished by NASA.

How many worlds exist outside our solar system?

Exoplanets are worlds just like our own that are revolving around a star. Here at The Optimist Daily, we’ve commonly reported on the discovery of new exoplanets, like the first time an exoplanet has been spotted outside our galaxy, or this peculiar planet with the shortest orbit around a star Read More...

Eyesight restoration

Alcoholism drug may help restore eyesight

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in adults, and scientists are hard at work finding a cure for it. There are positive strides made every day, and there are all sorts of promising new developments, such as the use of stem cells to recover degenerated eye Read More...

Buying an electric car

Want to buy an EV? Make a plan first

As you can probably tell by now, The Optimist Daily is a big fan of electric vehicles. EV’s offer a practical way to lower our personal carbon emissions and hold promise for additional benefits in the near future, such as powering our homes in an emergency. It also feels like EV's have finally Read More...

Broken solar panel

How do solar panels break? And how do we fix them?

At the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, teams of scientists and researchers spend large parts of their day jumping on, twisting, smashing, and generally coming up with various ways of breaking solar panels.  It’s not malice, it’s not incompetence. It's not Read More...

Vaccination vial with syringe.

Immune system chip reduces the need for animal testing

Finding immune system solutions so often necessitates stoking an immune response. Scientists unfortunately have to carry out tests for treatment for the immune system on live organisms, such as mice and non-human primates. What if there were a way to do this without animal testing? An Read More...

Carbon Crusher vehicle that crushes old roads for recycling

This startup uses a plant-derived material to make roads carbon negative

Similar to building new roads, repairing existing ones is not an environmentally friendly endeavor. One of the main problems is bitumen, a fossil fuel-derived binder that holds asphalt together. A startup in Norway is recycling old roads using a plant-based binder instead, a process that could Read More...