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.

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China’s “artificial sun” fusion reactor breaks yet another record

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has exciting news about its fusion reactor that it recently shared in a release. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion reactor successfully sustained a plasma temperature of 120 million degrees Celsius for 1,056 seconds, effectively Read More...

Animation of Ocean Battery energy storage system

Ocean Battery could help solve the renewable energy storage problem

The lack of adequate energy storage systems is one of the biggest problems associated with the rise of renewables such as wind and solar in recent years. In an effort to provide a solution, a Dutch startup has invented the Ocean Battery — an energy storage system that operates by the same Read More...

Photograph of the milky way.

Mapping out the Milky Way’s snacks gives clues into dark matter

In our galaxy’s galactic halo, there are 12 streams of stars orbiting. These burning balls of gas are actually being torn apart and their energy is absorbed into the Milky Way. In other words, they are the galaxy’s food source. Using the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT), a team has finally got Read More...

Blue helix human DNA structure.

World’s smallest antenna created from DNA

Scientists, from the Université de Montréal, have constructed the world’s tiniest antenna in an incredible experiment. This nanoantenna is made entirely from DNA and its purpose is to monitor structural changes of protein molecules in never before achieved detail. What is the device made out Read More...

Bowl of red grapes on blue wooden table.

Here’s why grapes are good for your gut

The health benefits of grapes Grapes are the perfect, portable healthy snack to eat. Enclosed in their bite-size shells, they are a widely popular choice across the globe. The fruit is actually known to be a great source of potassium which helps balance fluids in the body. A new study, Read More...

surgeons operate heart transplant

Doctors transplant pig's heart into human patient for the first time ever

A remarkable milestone in medicine was reached by doctors in Maryland who have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig’s heart into a human patient in a do-or-die situation. David Bennet, a 57-year-old handyman, was the recipient of this life-saving operation. He knew that the Read More...

Two N95 masks lying on a wooden table

Study: Dry heat can be used to disinfect N95 masks

Since the onset of the pandemic, many hospitals have faced a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks. As a result, researchers have started evaluating the impact of various methods of decontamination on how well masks filter out viral particles — all in a bid to allow Read More...

Study: Goldfish can be taught

Study: Goldfish can be taught to operate a vehicle

This interesting study, carried out by scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, looked at how capable a fish out of water really is. In an effort to understand animals' navigational capabilities the team used a goldfish as a subject, teaching it to drive a Fish Operated Vehicle Read More...

Plastic on conveyor belt at recycling facility

Scientists develop tech that can separate 12 different types of plastics

Plastic is a much more complex material than you may think. Because it comes in many different types with varied compositions and characteristics, plastic is difficult to separate and recycle at the end of its life. Although, new technology developed by scientists in Denmark may soon change Read More...

Dog looks intelligently at owner

Study proves dogs can distinguish between familiar & unfamiliar languages

A new study published in NeuroImage confirms what many dog owners already know—their furry companions are really quite smart. The study focuses on dogs’ brains and their ability to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar languages. The lead author of the study, neurobiologist Laura Read More...