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.
2020 Coal consumption was lowest in US since 1965
2020 marked an important milestone in our transition away from coal as a means of producing electricity. In the US, coal power plants experienced the country’s lowest annual coal consumption since 1965, and the fossil fuel is expected to reach levels last seen in the 19th century in coming years, Read More...
Gettin' sweaty: Your wearable device may soon be powered by perspiration
Wearable biosensors like smartwatches have become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to their great potential for monitoring people’s health. However, finding a suitable power source for these devices has proven challenging. On one hand, conventional button batteries are too bulky, while Read More...
US Earthquake alert systems now covers entire West Coast
Due to the unpredictable nature of earthquakes, we usually have far less time to prepare for these natural disasters than others such as tornadoes or hurricanes. The good news is that researchers have been able to design earthquake alert systems that can offer some advanced warning and allow Read More...
Thought Leader Series: The resiliency of human nature
Isolation, financial stress, and uncertainty have made many people more depressed and anxious during the pandemic. The good news is that psychiatrist and neurobiology expert Dr. Richard Friedman, whose work was shared with us by an Emissary, finds that humans have boosted resilience in the face of Read More...
Perspectives: Unpacking the hydrogen color codes
You may have heard the terms brown hydrogen, grey hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and green hydrogen when referring to this energy source. Who knew hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe (76 percent of all molecules in the universe are hydrogen), came in so many colors! Actually, it Read More...
POWERPASTE could make hydrogen fuel technologies safer and more efficient
While hydrogen fuel cells have a huge potential to shift our transportation industry towards a cleaner future, one of the main reasons why the technology hasn’t yet reached scale is because hydrogen is incredibly volatile and challenging to store and transport. In a bid to overcome this Read More...
Medical drone delivery project to service remote communities in Uganda
Advancements in modern medicine allow for multitudes of medical problems to be managed by the individuals who live with them, but what good are these advancements to those living in remote areas if they aren’t accessible? Ensuring that remote communities have equitable access to modern Read More...
Wind turbines on a vertical axis can boost efficiency of wind farms
According to the latest Global Wind Report, the world needs to triple its wind energy production over the coming decade in order to reach critical net-zero targets. While that’s a very ambitious goal, a new study demonstrates that by redesigning conventional wind turbines, we could boost their Read More...
The Energy Garden empowers commuters to combat climate change
The Energy Garden is a London-based organization that is tackling climate change in a multi-dimensional way that educates and brings London’s communities together through gardening. Since its inception 10 years ago, the Energy Garden has expanded to include 34 solar-powered gardens and more Read More...
This yacht will fuel itself with the trash it sucks up from our oceans
Professional yacht racer Yves Bourgnon was irritated at the sight of floating plastic trash in seawater and decided to turn that anger into the inspiration he needed to create the concept for the Manta, a water-cleaning sailboat that is powered by the litter it picks up. The Manta will be an Read More...