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.
This is how electric vehicles can make our roads safer
From minimizing your environmental footprint to saving money on maintenance and repair costs, owning an electric car clearly has its benefits. Now, we would like to make the case for EVs stronger by helping you understand how they could also make our roads safer. According to the World Health Read More...
Plugging abandoned oil and gas wells generates jobs and reduces emissions
We recently shared a study that found that plugging abandoned oil and gas wells is not only a win for the environment but can also generate billions of dollars in new jobs and avoiding pollution. A new study from the Ohio River Valley Institute supports these initial findings and lays out the Read More...
NASA project uses satellites to identify greenhouse gas super-emitters
Greenhouse gas super-emitters are exactly what they sound like: Individual sources like landfills, dairy farms, or leaking pipelines generating enormous amounts of planet-warming emissions, namely methane and carbon dioxide. In the fight against climate change, these big players must be taken out Read More...
This seawater-powered lamp is bringing light to coastal communities
Like millions of other people on the planet, inhabitants on the Guajira Peninsula, a coastal desert at the northernmost tip of South America, lack adequate access to electricity. Something they do have in abundance, however, is saltwater — a commodity that is now charging small lanterns used by Read More...
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter makes history with its first flight on Mars
In an incredible space exploration feat, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter successfully completed its first flight on Mars this week. The historic event took place on Monday, 3:34 a.m. ET, and marked the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. The small hopper, weighing no more than four Read More...
The Netherlands launches plan to ban carbon-emitting delivery vehicles
In the past year, many of us have spent an unprecedented amount of time at home, which means that a lot of our day-to-day tasks have moved from real-life interactions to online platforms. In some ways, this has been a wonderful break for the environment, but on the other hand, there has been a Read More...
Ireland to replace its last coal plant with renewable energy hub
The 915MW Moneypoint coal-fired power station is the last coal generation site in Ireland. The country is set to eliminate coal as a power source all together with the announcement that it will close and replace this site with a new green energy hub. According to the Electricity Supply Board Read More...
This floating hotel generates its own clean energy by rotating non-stop
Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio (HAADS) is leading an exciting design project: a mobile floating eco-hotel that generates its own electricity by rotating as guests relax on board. It will be based in Qatar, but because it is completely mobile, has the potential to float from place to Read More...
Scientists discover a way to reverse obesity in mice. Will humans be next?
Obesity is a disease that involves having an excessive amount of body fat. It is a serious issue that increases the risk of other medical problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Our understanding of obesity is limited, though scientists from The Spanish National Cancer Research Center continue Read More...
This countertop device turns food scraps into compost
Composting is a great way to generate fresh food for your garden and keep scraps out of the landfill, but if you don’t have a yard or access to green waste pickup services, it can feel impossible to dispose of scraps sustainably. Fortunately, Vitamix has launched a gadget to help. The new Read More...