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 battery production method could yield safer and cheaper electric cars
Conventional lithium-ion EV batteries use liquid electrolytes that require sophisticated and expensive cooling systems to prevent the technology from overheating and getting damaged. In an effort to provide a better alternative, scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a Read More...
The power of cartography for advocacy in Panama's indigenous communities
26-year-old Carlos Doviaza is a self-taught cartographer, but his maps are making a real impact among indigenous communities in Panama. An indigenous person himself, Doviaza feared that these communities, which make up 12 percent of Panama’s population, would be disproportionately affected by the Read More...
Scientists develop robodogs for the visually impaired
Robot dogs with laser vision may sound like the main characters of a Saturday morning cartoon, but don’t be surprised if you see one out and about in the future. A team of scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, published a study on March 26 that detailed their robodog prototype Read More...
The UK announces program to monitor the world's oceans
The ocean has always been a source of wonder and inspiration. Many have dedicated their entire lives to uncovering the mysteries of the ocean, but there is still so much we don’t know. This past Saturday, the UK announced its mission to fund a worldwide effort to monitor wildlife in the open Read More...
Scientists collect animal DNA from the air in a world’s first
For the first time ever, scientists have demonstrated that animal DNA can be collected from the air — a breakthrough that could revolutionize forensics, conservation, and even epidemiology. Collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) is nothing new in itself. Ecologists have previously collected eDNA Read More...
Farmers and scientists in CA collaborate to minimize water use
In response to climate change and relentless droughts and heatwaves, scientists and farmers in California’s Central Valley are working with local communities to put innovative water-saving systems in place. Together, they have found ways to use and re-use water as sustainably as possible. The Read More...
Solar concentrators provide fast and reliable solar light
With a population of 5.6 million people, the small island nation of Singapore has roughly the same density as New York City. In a country where space is of the essence, researchers from Nanyang Technological University have developed a compact solar concentrator to illuminate the island’s Read More...
There's something fishy about this biodegradable plastic
It’s no secret that plastic is not a friend to our environment. Commonly used types of plastic, like polyurethane, are made from non-renewable crude oil and will take hundreds of years to break down once thrown out. The problem is that humans use plastic for a variety of things, so much so that Read More...
Australians can now trade extra solar power for cold beer
In what they believe to be the world’s first, Asahi Group’s Carlton and United Breweries, an Australian beer maker, is now offering Victorian Bitter to households with rooftop solar energy to spare. The brewery has already installed solar panels on its Melbourne brewery and is purchasing Read More...
The benefits of shifting healthcare from hospital to home
In today’s world, we've gotten accustomed to being able to do things at the touch of a button. Having our groceries delivered to our door, renewing driver’s licenses, and completing degrees through online platforms are tasks that would not have been accomplished remotely just one or two Read More...