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.
How we recognize one voice in a noisy crowd
Whether we’re at a busy restaurant, birthday party, or on public transport, sometimes our brain needs to focus on a single speaker amongst a multitude of background noise. A group of scientists from the University of Rochester Medical Center, wanted to see exactly how our incredible organ Read More...
Study: Scientists successfully distinguish zoo animals from airborne DNA
Earlier last year, a team of scientists demonstrated that animal DNA can be collected from the air — a breakthrough expected to significantly improve conservation efforts, and even potentially revolutionize forensics and epidemiology. Now, scientists decided to take it a step further by Read More...
European cities could see a lot less cars on the roads in the near future
As local governments are finally coming to the realization that prioritizing cycling and walking over driving can tremendously benefit their residents, many are considering implementing permanent policies to tackle car-centric city development. In a bid to accelerate the adoption of such policies, Read More...
Simple movement is connected to better brain health in older adults
It goes without saying that practicing regular exercise offers plentiful benefits for our overall health, but as we age, engaging in the same exercise regimes that we did in our youth might not be possible or even advisable. However, a new study focused on people in their eighties found that Read More...
This biosensor can detect infections post surgery
Preventing infection is vital after surgery to avoid a range of complications. Currently, to monitor the progress deeper in the surgical wound a clinician needs to assess the site or expensive radiological tests need to occur. Unfortunately, both tend to fail detection of an infection before it Read More...
AI simulation can model potential asteroid collisions
Asteroid impact Asteroids have hit the Earth before and it is possible they could again. Although, preparation and small interventions could make the difference for humans to avoid total annihilation. A research team from the National Institute of Natural Hazards in China has recently constructed Read More...
For Greenlanders, eating sugar is significantly healthier
Sugar is vital for humans to survive as fuels us with energy, that’s why mother nature made the sweet treat so delicious! Although, for some members of the human race sugar has been found to supply significantly more health benefits than most. "Adult Greenlanders with the genetic variation Read More...
New part of the body discovered
Not taught in medical school With millions of doctors performing complex surgery every day worldwide, you would think someone would have successfully described all parts of the human body right? Well, science is ever surprising, with researchers managing to pinpoint a muscle that is not taught in Read More...
Modular facade can be installed onto old buildings to cut their emissions
Heating and cooling our buildings comes with a hefty environmental footprint. In the US alone, heating and cooling systems account for 38 percent of greenhouse gas emissions of residential housing. Coming up with more sustainable ways to maintain a favorable temperature within our homes is thus key Read More...
Scientists create new magnesium isotope
What is an isotope? Before we go into the exciting discovery, a little background knowledge about isotopes may help us understand how cool it really is. Different types of elements, such as hydrogen and gold, are defined due to differences in atomic weight, decided by the number of neutrons in Read More...