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.
New breakthroughs in nutrient-sensing cells
Did you know immune cells can sense nutrients? A new study from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has identified the biological mechanism behind the phenomenon. The type of immune cells with these special abilities are called T cells. These play a critical role in immunity and cancer, Read More...
Popcorn may be the next sustainable building material
Popcorn is more than just a tasty snack to munch on while at the movies—it may soon be widely used as a natural and eco-friendly alternative to man made home insulation. Scientists at Göttingen University in Germany have discovered that popcorn insulation boards had “excellent thermal Read More...
This 3D-printed eye is an eye-conic development for digital prosthetics
According to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, Steve Verze, a 47-year-old engineer from Hackney, has been the fortunate recipient of the world’s first 3D printed eyeball. He first tried the eye on for size earlier in the month, but last Thursday he was properly fitted with the prosthetic, Read More...
New species of ‘cold bone’ dinosaur uncovered in Greenland
Paleontologists uncovered an exciting new species of dinosaur this month, found in Eastern Greenland. The remnants consisted of two skulls, which are thought to date back around 214 million years. Both dinosaurs died before they reached complete adulthood; one being a juvenile, and one being a Read More...
Wireless sensor embedded into bone to monitor bone health in real-time
It’s difficult for doctors to monitor the health of a patient’s bones, or to observe how broken or fractured bones heal. However, this may soon change thanks to researchers at the University of Arizona, who have developed a device that holds fast to the bone and sends data wirelessly in Read More...
Study: Schools of fish operate like a superorganism
The world under the waves is still a mystery, with 95 percent of oceans yet to be explored. Scientists are always uncovering many new and exciting aspects of this ecosystem; from the importance of fish poop, to new species of whale, and even how fish use sharks like a day spa! Teams from the Read More...
Study brings us one step closer to sustainable pharmaceuticals
On average, the pharmaceutical industry creates 100kg of waste for every 1kg of small-molecule drug synthesized. Making this process highly inefficient and creating a lot of toxic waste. Nitrogen-containing chemicals called primary amines are the sought-after chemicals from these processes, being Read More...
New biomarker for Alzheimer’s discovered
Alzheimer’s is a complex neurological disease, with scientists still trying to piece together the complete puzzle of factors that contribute to its development. A number of different genetic and environmental risks have been determined─though more than 99 percent of cases are not inherited. Read More...
Jessica Watkins is first Black woman on a long-term mission aboard the ISS
Jessica Watkins will make history as the first Black woman to complete a long-term mission on the International Space Station (ISS) on the upcoming SpaceX Crew-4 launch, according to a statement released by NASA. Joining Watkins on her first voyage into space, which is set to launch in April Read More...
We’ve finally cracked the outer layer of HIV
The capsid is the complex outer layer surrounding HIV's genetic material. It is primarily used for protection, though also plays essential roles in early stage replication and transport inside the virus. A huge hurdle in HIV research has been figuring out how this protective protein is Read More...