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.
Researchers rediscover tiny Tasmanian crayfish thought to be extinct
Tasmania is a biodiversity hotspot that is home to many species of wildlife, but there’s one particular species that researchers hadn’t spotted in decades: the short-tailed rain crayfish. Crayfish expert Alastair Richardson first encountered the short-tailed rain crayfish in the 1970s while Read More...
Unique study on psilocybin microdosing to commence in Australia
From treating depression to alleviating migraines, research has shown that psilocybin (magic mushrooms) has many healing properties. Still, there is so much to learn about this special psychedelic, which is why we’re excited to tell you about a novel study that is about to take place in Read More...
This smart pot tells you exactly how much water and light your plants need
If you’re the type who loves sharing their home with plants, there probably was a time when you’ve found yourself with a struggling green companion, and couldn’t necessarily tell what the exact problem was. Was it too much water? Or too much sun? Was the relative humidity too high? Or was the Read More...
New technique speeds up infection treatment and fights drug-resistant bacteria
Drug-resistant bacteria are a growing challenge for the medical community, but choosing effective antibiotics right off the bat can reduce the growth of these bacteria and help patients recover more quickly from illness. Fortunately, researchers from universities and hospitals across Europe have Read More...
No more range anxiety: new EV battery fully charges in 5 minutes
If we want to tackle the climate crisis, then we have to adopt electric vehicles in mass. One major barrier that stands in the way of mass adoption is range anxiety: the fear that you will either run out of charge and get stuck on the highway or you’ll end up sitting at a charging station for two Read More...
Scientists use renewable energy to turn CO2 and water into synthetic fuel
While we work towards a future where all vehicles are electric, it's important we find greener ways to fuel the combustion vehicles in service today. With that in mind, researchers have figured out a way to make fuel for gas-burning cars using renewable energy. The novel process involves combining Read More...
New process separates fabric microplastics into harmless CO2 and H2O
We recently shared a story about balls of seaweed that help collect plastic from the seafloor, but the question still remains, what do we do with this plastic once we collect it? Researchers from Quebec's Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) may have an answer with their new Read More...
Japanese studio designs airless soccer ball for kids in impoverished areas
One of the beautiful aspects of the sport of soccer is that you only need a ball to play, but even that can be difficult to attain in impoverished countries. And even if a ball is acquired, the ball needs to be kept inflated and will eventually deteriorate, especially when used on a rough surface. Read More...
Scientists engineer plane component that cuts NOx emissions by 95%
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are one of the biggest contributors to air pollution and have been associated with a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Research shows that the aviation industry’s share of total NOx emissions contributes to an estimated 16,000 premature deaths every Read More...
New solar windows allow more light to pass through than ever before
Over the years, we’ve written a number of stories about the potential of solar windows that could convert light into energy. The technology, however, has yet to take off. The main problem is that the solar windows created thus far have been too opaque, failing to allow much light to come Read More...