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.
US’ largest coal miners’ union voices support for a transition to renewables
A huge hurdle in the transition to renewable energy is the question of what will happen to the thousands of jobs in the coal and gas industries. Fortunately, multiple studies have shown the economic benefits associated with a transition to a greener energy future, and now, even the US’ largest Read More...
Citizen science unveils true significance of Scottish fort
Citizen science has exploded in popularity during the pandemic and at one site in Scotland, years of volunteer archaeology have paid off with the discovery of a long sought after hillfort. The King's Seat Hillfort has been known to archeologists for a century, but its full size, location, and Read More...
Washington state moves to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2030
In September last year, California took a commendable step towards a cleaner transport sector by banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Just a few months later, Massachusetts followed in the footsteps of the Golden State and did the same. Now, the state of Washington is about to take it Read More...
Report: US Power sector is halfway to zero emissions
17 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have set goals to achieve entirely clean energy power systems by 2050 or sooner. In encouraging news, a new report, titled “Halfway to Zero,” has found that power sector emissions in the US are already half what they would be without the adoption Read More...
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...