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.
Meet Wisdom, the 70 year old albatross that just hatched another chick
When biologist Chandler Robbins first tagged Wisdom the Laysan albatross in 1956, he probably had no idea that the oceanic bird would long outlive him. But here we are in the year 2021, and Wisdom is still alive and mating. In fact, Wisdom has just hatched another chick at the tender age of 70. Read More...
Canada will invest $2.75 bn to boost its fleet of zero-emission vehicles
Last week we shared a story about the UK’s plan to increase the number of zero-emission buses on its streets. Now Canada is following suit by unveiling a $2.75 billion investment to electrify its transit system over the next five years — with the aim to pave the way for a net-zero emissions Read More...
Energy utilities collaborate to stretch EV charging network across 16 states
Imagine if you could take a road trip across the entire continental US in an electric vehicle without worrying about getting stuck without a charging station. This is the goal of the newly formed Electric Highway Coalition, a collaboration between six big regional utilities that aim to make Read More...
The UK plans to test a new fleet of zero-emission buses on its roads
Cities across the world are making efforts to cut air pollution and reduce the number of combustion engine vehicles on their streets. Low- and zero-emission vehicles are starting to play an increasingly bigger role in achieving these goals. With that said, the UK has announced that its public Read More...
A first for invertebrates: Cuttlefish can delay gratification
Have you ever heard of the “marshmallow test?” It’s a type of experiment designed at Stanford in the 1960s by Walter Mischel to test whether human children have the self-control to wait for a better reward. In essence, the children were given a choice between having one marshmallow now or Read More...
National Parks are leading the transition to all-electric federal fleets
The US government has announced plans to transition all federal fleet vehicles to electric models and what better place to start than the country’s most valuable natural spaces: National Parks. Zion National Park has officially received a federal grant to transition all of its shuttle buses Read More...
This lamp uses ultraviolet light to sanitize public spaces in minutes
Back in January, we wrote about a new 20,000 square meter outdoor light installation from the Rotterdam-based Studio Roosegaarde that is meant to make outdoor agriculture even more sustainable while dually turning crop fields into a work of art. Today, we bring you the latest design from Studio Read More...
Pollution-eating, electricity-breathing bacteria may save our water
It’s no secret that humans have had an enormous impact on the world’s water supply. If we look at lakes, rivers, or shores that humans live near, chances are we will find a significant quantity of litter scattered in the area. According to Clean Water Action, these water pollutants have Read More...
New underwater robot can detect and save drowning swimmers
Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies, and Image Exploitation in Germany have a team of engineers who are collaborating with the water rescue service for the German city of Halle (Wasserrettungsdienst Halle e.V.) to develop an exciting project: a life-saving autonomous underwater Read More...
The USPS unveils greener new design for postal trucks
The US Postal Service (USPS) has recently revealed its next-generation mail truck after a competition between different vehicle manufacturers. The new truck will be built by Wisconsin-based defense contractor Oshkosh, which won the multi-billion-dollar 10-year contract to build more efficient Read More...