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.
Do fireflies glow in space? These 2nd graders launched a rocket to find out
In 2015, a second grade class in Indiana curiously asked whether fireflies would still glow if sent into space. After doing some research, their teacher, Maggie Samudio, figured out that for just half the cost of the school’s football uniforms, they could actually send a rocket to space and find Read More...
This self-watering soil hydrates plants all by itself
Researchers from the University of Texas have designed a self-watering soil that could provide plants with the on-demand hydration they need, even in dry climates. It may sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, the new soil uses moisture-absorbing gels to capture water from the air. This water Read More...
Smart implantable device to revolutionize the way we monitor heart disease
Pacemakers and other implantable cardiac devices used to monitor and treat heart conditions have generally posed one issue — either they are made with rigid materials that can't move to accommodate a beating heart, or they are made from soft materials that can collect only a limited amount of Read More...
Scientists develop battery-less underwater GPS system powered by sound
While we often use GPS systems to navigate unknown areas on land, GPS is not an option for underwater vehicles such as submarines. That’s because water impedes and scatters the radio waves GPS depends on, which is why submarines rely on sonar rather than radar to probe their surroundings. Read More...
Dots makes future technologies accessible to people with disabilities
While the rapid advent of future technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices represents an exciting development in our modern society, these technologies are often not adapted to everyone’s needs, leaving people with disabilities behind. Enter Dots, an Read More...
Scientists develop AI that detects Covid-19 by listening to your coughs
MIT scientists have developed AI that can detect Covid-19 by listening to a person force out a cough, even if that person is otherwise asymptomatic. To make this possible, the scientists developed neural networks that can distinguish subtle changes indicative of the novel coronavirus’ effects. Read More...
First drone flies over the North Pole in the name of climate science
Drones have been flown into volcanoes, wildfires, and the Amazon in the name of science, but until this year, nobody had successfully flown a drone over the North Pole. That changed this fall when Roberta Pirazzini and Henna-Reetta Hannula piloted a drone over the Arctic’s northernmost region to Read More...
Bizarre: Whale sculpture saves Dutch train from falling off the tracks
Here’s another item to add to the list of bizarre things to happen in 2020: A Dutch metro train crashed through the stop blocks at a station just outside Rotterdam and was bound to fall 10 meters (32ft) to the ground. But rather than a tragic free fall, the train landed on top of a giant Read More...
Why scientists are sending drones into the plumes of active volcanoes
Monitoring active volcanoes across the world to send out early warnings before they erupt is a challenging undertaking. But scientists are now tapping into drone technology to help them predict eruptions more easily. Researchers from University College London and the University of Mexico have Read More...
This novel device developed by MIT grads could revolutionize dermatology
Seeking to deliver skincare treatments in a way that doesn’t involve needles or creams, two MIT grads started developing a device five years ago that delivers over the counter skincare actives by penetrating the skin with a fast-moving mist. Now, the recently launched technology holds promise to Read More...