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.
IEA: Renewables are the only major power source to grow in 2020
In its annual World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that renewables are expected to overtake coal as the primary means of producing electricity by 2025. The combined share of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind in the global generation will rise to almost 30 percent in Read More...
This wearable sensor can be printed directly onto the skin
Scientists at Penn State University have developed a wearable sensor that can be safely printed directly onto the skin to track things like temperature and blood oxygen levels. The printable sensor looks a bit like a high-tech henna tattoo and can be used to continuously record human data. Once the Read More...
These tiny cargo bikes want to revolutionize urban delivery
Delivery drivers spend almost 30 percent of their time looking for parking spots for their trucks, according to this study. When they don’t find one, they often end up blocking traffic. A German startup is determined to put an end to such messy logistics by coming up with a viable Read More...
This tiny electric car designed by students is made from recycled waste
Making a truly sustainable vehicle sounds like a nearly impossible endeavor, but a team of Dutch students recently gave it a shot, with the result being a rather impressive sporty-looking electric car made almost entirely out of waste. Developed by a team of students from the Eindhoven University Read More...
Sustainable supersonic jets could soon take to the skies
In 1947, the first supersonic jet took to the skies, with American pilot Chuck Yeager becoming the first to break the sound barrier. To make the technology mainstream, the British and French governments joined forces to create the Concorde: the first commercial-sized supersonic jet capable of Read More...
First Solar prevents e-waste by creating new solar panels from old ones
Though the global surge in solar power is good news for our green energy transition, it also means that in the coming years we will face an enormous amount of e-waste. In fact, it’s estimated that the first wave of solar panels will generate as much as 8 million metric tons of e-waste by 2030. Read More...
Shark barrier protects swimmers from attacks in an animal-friendly way
Shark nets are often used to protect swimmers and surfers from shark attacks, but often they not only fail to do their job but also pose a deadly threat to marine life. In a bid to come up with a safer and more effective alternative, a team of scientists in South Africa has developed an Read More...
LGBTQ community adopts #proudboys to drown out hateful rhetoric
The Proud Boys, a far-right group designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, was trending on social media after being mentioned at the presidential debate, but Twitter users quickly took matters into their own hands to stop the spread of hateful rhetoric. Men in the LGBTQ Read More...
Study: Electric vehicles really are cheaper to own than gas-powered cars
A new study from Consumer Reports (CR) indicates that the most popular electric vehicles are less expensive to own over their lifespans when compared to the best gas cars in their respective classes. But while you might think the price difference comes down to fuel savings, there is another huge Read More...
This plastic is made from waste and biodegrades within a year
Traditional plastic is made from petroleum and pollutes our environment for centuries when it’s thrown away, so scientists at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology set out to create a plastic alternative that addresses these two primary problems. They have Read More...