A star-mapping algorithm from NASA is being used to save whale sharks
The Wildbook for Whale Sharks uses an advanced algorithm to scan images of sharks and compare them to thousands of archived photos to track populations, but the technology was not initially intended for use in our oceans. The system was first developed by NASA to map stars in the sky with the Read More...
New study helps rocket us towards inclusive space travel
The AstroAccess project has taken flight, set up to understand what more inclusive space travel looks like. 26 percent of the American population have a disability according to the CDC, though 8.4 percent of the country’s employed scientists and engineers are disabled. The point of this project Read More...
This is how butterflies could make our future security systems unhackable
Though fingerprint recognition may make us feel like we have control over our privacy when it comes to accessing our electronic devices, much like other modern security labels — like QR codes and electronic passes — our fingerprints are vulnerable to the possibility of being replicated. A Read More...
Bootleg fire demonstrates efficacy of Indigenous forest management
Last September, we shared an article about the benefits of controlled burns and other Indigenous practices for wildfire management and mitigation. Now, the Bootleg fire in Oregon is offering up some more evidence to support that Indigenous practices could be lifesaving in a climate change-fueled Read More...
You can contribute to science while observing nature in your backyard
From analyzing distant galaxies in order to help astronomers better understand the universe to protecting the coral reefs from climate change, there are plenty of cool ways you can contribute to science these days. And if you have been particularly attentive to the nature around you while in Read More...
Phoenix is using green space to tackle urban heat disparities
Our latest Optimist View discussed how urban green space impacts heat exposure and health outcomes in cities. One of the cities grappling with this issue is Phoenix. As the hottest city in the US, Phoenix is very focused on keeping things cool in a warming world. The city has pledged to reach Read More...
This AI system protects journalists and the integrity of news media
The advancement of technology has expanded the reach and scope of modern journalism, but it has also created an environment for misinformation and libel cases are increasing in prevalence. Dedicated newsrooms and journalists are working to combat this issue, but with the breadth of the internet, Read More...
The future is bright white! How paint can help cool a city
Last year, we wrote about a team of researchers led by Purdue University mechanical engineering professor Xiulin Ruan who invented a kind of paint that is so white it reflects more than 95 percent of the sunlight that falls on surfaces covered in it. We love keeping track of solutions as they Read More...
This is how bacteria can help us recycle electric car batteries
Though electric vehicles (EVs) emit much fewer greenhouse gas emissions than cars that burn petrol or diesel, the rare metals needed for manufacturing their batteries are increasingly in short supply. Currently, the EU recycles less than five percent of EV batteries, and the most common technique Read More...
How one neighborhood used gamification to reduce traffic emissions
Green transportation methods like walking, biking, and taking public transportation reduces carbon emissions and improve air quality for residents, but encouraging people to choose these options over personal vehicles is a challenge. One neighborhood in London has finally cracked the code on green Read More...