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.
Electric car manufacturing to be cheaper than combustion engines by 2027
Electric cars and vans will cost less to manufacture in Europe than conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2027, according to a new BloombergNEF study. Commissioned by nonprofit Transport & Environment, the study sheds new light on the future of electric transportation, Read More...
Heineken is turning wasted beer into sustainable energy
When the pandemic forced us into lockdown, many of our favorite watering pubs, bars, and restaurants had to throw out millions of dollars of stock. In the UK, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) estimates that about 87 million pints of beer have been tossed as a result. Fortunately, the Read More...
Scientists use human hair from barbershop to improve solar cell efficiency
In recent years, perovskite solar cells have emerged as a promising technology in the field of renewable energy, showing potential to outperform the monocrystalline silicon solar cells widely used today. One of the main challenges that have so far restricted them from large-scale adoption is that Read More...
Study: Current Covid-19 vaccines highly effective against existing variants
As scientists marveled at the incredible efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, their only concern was how these vaccines would stand up against more contagious variants of the disease. Many are breathing a small sigh of relief as a new study finds that current Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines Read More...
IBM develops the world’s smallest and most powerful microchip
For years, the tech industry has been seeking hardware that’s smaller, faster, cheaper, and more energy-efficient, constantly driving microchip innovation forward. Now, IBM has achieved another important milestone in this audacious technological endeavor by announcing that it has created a Read More...
Scientists use silk to make a sustainable leather alternative
Though highly useful thanks to its impressive properties of durability and versatility, animal-derived leather has its issues, most of which pertain to the environmental toll associated with its production. That’s why, scientists and designers are in search of more sustainable materials to Read More...
Rewilding: A Key Solution for Biodiversity
Wild wolves used to roam freely across most of the United States, but when these wolves were hunted to extinction in areas like Montana and Wyoming, ecosystems quickly fell out of balance. Without natural predators, elk populations soared, eating away at trees and grasses, eliminating building Read More...
Solar panels and California's water canals: A match made in heaven
About 4,000 miles of canals transport water to some 35 million people and 5.7 million acres of farmland across California. As the state enters another year of severe drought, researchers from the University of California have come up with a proposition to cover these canals with solar panels to Read More...
Solar Mountain installation could power Burning Man with clean energy
Burning Man is an annual music and arts event that attracts a lot of creative, expressive, and entrepreneurial individuals. However, because of its expansive desert setting, visitors tend to use a lot of motorized fossil-fuel vehicles to navigate their way around, while several displays require the Read More...
Mosquito monitors prove that these pests can be useful after all
Many of us have probably wondered to ourselves while swatting away pesky mosquitos if these itch-inducing creatures exist solely to ruin our fun and buzz in our ears. As it turns out, Ethan Jackson, a researcher at Microsoft, has found that mosquitos can actually serve a great Read More...