Today’s Solutions: January 09, 2025

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.

mouse sits in front of a pair of glasses

Drug used to treat alcoholism effectively treats vision disorders in mice

Researchers at the University of California, Berkley, have realized that a drug once commonly used to treat alcoholism might also be useful in improving the sight of individuals with vision disorders. The drug disulfiram (also known as Antabuse) was first tested on mice when researchers Read More...

Shovel on charcoal (biochar) texture background for fertilizer. biochar powder

How biochar can mitigate carbon from farmlands to urban centers

Biochar has long been hailed in the environmental community as a potent solution for mitigating certain aspects of climate change, from fixing soil erosion to upping water absorption and pulling carbon out of the atmosphere. Now, there is a growing list of industries that might improve their Read More...

Earth and moon in space with milky-way.

What the moon tells us about the early universe

Did you know that the distance between the Earth and the moon is constantly changing? The space between them can change as much as 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) in six hours and the average distance between them is growing each year.An international team of researchers was able to learn much more Read More...

The 3D illustration showing brain and active vagus nerve.

The secrets of body-to-brain communication

There are so many types of communication that occur in our world, some of which you’ve probably never even considered. Having a chat over coffee, fungal networks sending each other signals underground, or even plant-to-farmer communication, there are so many types of relationships that rely on Read More...

Neuronal network with electrical activity of neuron cells 3D rendering illustration.

The gene that could stop Parkinson's disease

Scientists are always working tirelessly to figure out new, effective treatments for complex neurological conditions. Here at The Optimist Daily, we’ve reported on many before, such as non-invasive brain surgery for people with epilepsy and using brain signals to allow a man with paralysis to Read More...

Watering garden

How to help the ocean from anywhere

We all have one big thing in common these days: the changing climate. We are all united by this because it will affect all of us, be it in the form of winter storms, drought, or sea-level rise. The good news is that we can all affect the climate too, in a positive way. Even living in the Midwest, Read More...

Electric bike

More people are buying electric bikes

High gas prices are driving some commuters away from the pump and toward alternative means of transportation. Some might consider using public transportation or even buying an electric vehicle, as this offers more than a few energy solutions. There are many that are even turning to electric Read More...

The battery-free dandelion seed inspired device, powered by solar panels, seen in black in the middle.

These battery-free sensors fly like dandelion seeds

Wireless sensors are a versatile technology used to measure all sorts of conditions, without the restraint of being attached to a stationary object the whole time. They have many applications such as in medicine - like this wireless sensor which monitors bone health - or in measuring environmental Read More...

A technician working at the NIF before using the 196 lasers to create conditions similar to galaxy clusters.

Cracking the case of super-hot hydrogen in galaxies

Galaxies don't like to be alone. These huge swirls of stars, dust, and dark matter gravitate together in their thousands to form clusters, offering wonder and puzzlement to us humans watching them. The mystery of the super-hot hydrogen As with many aspects of our awe-inspiring universe, there is Read More...

woman with braided hair enthusiastically plays video game

Can video games treat health conditions? This start-up thinks so

Video games tend to have a bad rep of fostering addiction and encouraging people to waste time—however, as gamification proves a handy tool in conservation, humanitarian initiatives, and in combatting climate change, video games may also become a rising star in another arena: health. Video games Read More...