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.
Laser tech could help prevent wildfires by controlling lightning strikes
While fascinating to the eye, dry lightning strikes are actually an ominous phenomenon, especially during wildfire seasons. In the past year alone, the blazes of several large bushfires in Australia and the western US are thought to have been sparked by lightning strikes. A team of international Read More...
Battery efficiency solution: Just add a dash of potassium salt
Lithium-metal batteries are lighter and have a higher energy storage capability than their lithium-ion counterparts, but their use has been restricted due to safety concerns. The inclusion of an electrode made of lithium makes the batteries more prone to short-circuiting. That problem, however, may Read More...
San Francisco becomes latest city to ditch gas in new buildings
We recently discussed how Ojai, California is banning gas in new construction. Now, a much bigger city is tossing their hat in the gas-free ring. San Francisco’s board of supervisors unanimously voted this week to ban gas in new buildings, making it the second-largest city in the country to do so Read More...
New footage shows how remoras hitchhike on the back of a blue whale
Ever heard of the remora? It’s a suckerfish famous for hitchhiking on the backs of larger marine animals for food and shelter. The remora has a funky appearance compared to other fish, which largely comes down to the fact that it has a flattened head covered in ridges. Beneath that Read More...
UK: New HIV diagnoses in gay and bisexual men hits 20-year-low
A new report from Public Health England (PHE) revealed that new diagnoses of HIV amongst gay and bisexual men (GBM) have dropped to its lowest point in 20 years within the UK. The report shows that there were 1,700 new HIV diagnoses in GBM back in the year 2000. In 2019, the number of new HIV Read More...
Scientists develop 3D-printing method to replace damaged knee cartilage
Out of all the parts of the human body, the knee is perhaps the most infamous for its susceptibility to wear and tear. Surgeries to remove some of the damaged meniscus—the rubbery cartilage in the knee— is not uncommon amongst older adults, but the good news is that there’s a promising Read More...
This project uses beams of light to expand global access to the internet
There are more than 3 billion people in the world who still lack access to the internet. Many of them live in remote areas with rough terrain where deploying conventional internet infrastructure, such as fiber optic cables, is a difficult and expensive undertaking. But X, Alphabet’s moonshot Read More...
Scientists have created a method that turns moon dust into oxygen
As you might expect, supporting human life on the Moon requires breathable oxygen. But there’s only so much that astronauts can take with them, so figuring out how to produce it there is essential. Now, a British company is working on extracting oxygen from moon dust, which could be invaluable Read More...
Clean energy hit record growth in 2020, despite Covid-19
When it comes to new electricity generation in 2020, the fossil fuels sector had a terrible year. Fortunately, the same can’t be said about the renewables sector. According to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), 90 percent of new electricity generation is coming from Read More...
Virgin Hyperloop completes first test run with passengers aboard
The promise of hyperloop travel is that it will allow humans to cut down travel time dramatically by using magnetically levitating pods to propel people through near-vacuum tubes. These pods are designed to eventually hit speeds of around 745 mph, which would make it possible to travel from Los Read More...