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.
Zero-carbon flying: Rolls-Royce tests 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuels
As the aviation industry seeks to transition towards a post-carbon future, airplane manufactures are working in high gear to find greener alternatives to dirty jet fuel. One of the latest feats in this endeavor comes from Rolls-Royce engineers, who have begun testing the viability of using 100 Read More...
MIT study: Cyborg spinach plants send emails when detecting explosives
Spinach is often touted as a superfood for its extraordinary nutritional profile. But the leafy vegetable’s abilities to impress go beyond nutrition — as recently demonstrated by MIT researchers who hacked the spinach plant to send emails. You heard that right, in a bid to break the Read More...
Empire State Realty Trust now powered entirely by wind energy
New York City’s iconic Empire State Building and its other affiliated buildings are all now powered entirely by wind, making it the country’s largest real estate user of 100 percent green energy. Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT) has recently signed a three-year contract with sustainable energy Read More...
New bike lane construction bill in D.C. aims to boost cycling and safety
Last September, Washington D.C. passed the Vision Zero Enhancement Omnibus Amendment Act of 2019. The law, modeled after one in Cambridge, Massachusetts, takes a novel approach to designated bike lane development and is expected to boost bicycle use and safety in the city. How does it work? Let’s Read More...
Scientists create artificial aorta to reduce the need for heart transplants
An injury to the heart often requires a transplant of the entire organ, but a new invention from scientists at EPFL (Switzerland) could relieve the pressure of a damaged heart so that it could heal itself. When a heart is wounded, it will patch itself up with scar tissue to keep its structure Read More...
One Bicycle Foundation empowers students with just two wheels
Sebouh Bazikian started Bikes 4 Orphans when he was just 16 years old. Despite still being in high school, he partnered successfully with Serving Orphans Worldwide to provide bicycles to youth in Zimbabwe for transportation and improved quality of life. Now, nearly 10 years later, Bazikian is Read More...
France introduces “repairability index” to bring circularity to electronics
These days it’s all too common to have a drawer of discarded cell phones and other broken electronics in our homes, but if we want our economy to become truly circular, we will have to come up with innovative ways for these electronics to be repaired and reused when they get damaged. To achieve Read More...
Natural antifreeze compounds produced by fish inspire road salt alternative
Salt is a primary tool used by cities to keep roads safe during snowy weather, but while the salt helps melt snow and improve traction, it also has detrimental effects on the environment and infrastructure. Road salt is often a combination of regular salt and additives like magnesium chloride and Read More...
Startup launches first-ever commercial rocket using biofuel
Beyond being a thrill to watch, rocket launches are essential for blasting spacecraft and satellites into orbit. That said, there is a big environmental cost that comes with rocket launches as it requires an incredible amount of fuel to start the ascent. Space X’s Falcon Heavy, for instance, Read More...
Solar companies and farmers are working together to harvest sunlight and food
For generations, we have been powering our lives with greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels, damaging the environment and negatively impacting our atmosphere. Today, the effects of fossil fuels are tangible as we face climate change. Human innovation is making renewable sources of energy more Read More...