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.
Why Japanese scientists are developing satellites made of wood
According to the World Economic Forum, there are nearly 6,000 satellites circling the Earth at the moment. About 60 percent of them are no longer operational, meaning that they are nothing else than space junk flying at incredible speeds. Experts have warned of the increasing threat of space junk Read More...
A paralyzed man just fed himself using thought-controlled robotic hands
It’s been decades since Robert “Buz” Chmielewski could properly move his arms. A surfing accident robbed him of this ability as a teenager, causing him to be paralyzed from the neck down. But now, over 30 years since the accident, Chmielewski was able to cut food and serve himself thanks to a Read More...
China will soon open up its massive FAST telescope to global astronomers
Astronomers around the world will soon get an exciting opportunity to observe the sky like never before when the world’s largest Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) opens up to the global scientific community starting April 1st. Located in China, the “Sky Eye” parabolic dish is a Read More...
New flower species discovered in 100-million-year-old amber fossil
You might know amber for its aesthetic appeal, but for paleontologists, the gemstone is a thrilling way to find answers to big questions about the evolution, extinction, and conservation of ancient ecosystems. One of the latest amber discoveries to offer such extraordinary insights comes from Read More...
Exercising in the cold could boost body’s ability to burn fat
The winter holidays are the perfect time to relax and enjoy the company of your loved ones. Unfortunately, it’s also a time where people tend to eat too much and exercise too little. If you need to burn off some fat after the winter holidays, a new study suggests that working out in the winter Read More...
New technique turns carbon dioxide into jet fuel
As the aviation industry seeks to shrink its environmental footprint, a new development from Oxford University may just help airline companies reach their carbon-reduction goals. The new technology involves an experimental process that can turn carbon dioxide into jet fuel. If successful, it could Read More...
Kick off the new year with these dancing robots
We’ve trained robots to clean our homes, build cars, and even cook, but in honor of the New Year, the Boston Dynamics team decided to take a more celebratory approach to robot programming. The team’s latest video features a crew of robots busting out their best dance moves in a choreographed Read More...
Court grants ‘priority status’ to historic youth-driven climate case
Back in September, we wrote about a groundbreaking court case filed by young activists from Portugal that demanded 33 countries to make more ambitious emissions cuts to protect their future physical and mental wellbeing. Those countries include all the EU states, as well as the UK, Norway, Russia, Read More...
These solar-powered barges can scoop up 50 tons of plastic from rivers each day
While removing the plastic waste that currently contaminates the ocean today will be crucial for protecting marine ecosystems, it is arguably more important that we stop any more plastic trash from entering the ocean. Fortunately for humanity, The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit taking on plastic waste Read More...
US are removing old dams so fish can return to early spawning grounds
Over the past decade, nonprofits and state organizations have started recognizing that removing dams from rivers can actually help the environment by allowing fish to return to their original spawning grounds. According to Laura Craig, director of river restoration at American Rivers, removing Read More...