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.
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...
Waymo is now offering the Phoenix public rides in its driverless cars
The Google self-driving project Waymo started testing its driverless technology in the city of Phoenix back in 2017. Now, three years later, Waymo has announced plans to open its fully autonomous cars to the city’s wider population. In a similar style to Uber or Lyft, people can now book a trip Read More...
For the first time, two women jointly win Nobel Prize for chemistry
We’ve shared stories about how CRISPR is revolutionizing treatment for diseases like sickle cell and other genetic diseases. The gene-editing technology has the potential to change the course of modern medicine and this week, its inventors were recognized with the 2020 Nobel Prize in Read More...
Graphene circuits are the newest supplier of limitless clean energy
Earlier this week we discussed the rise of wave energy in the renewable energy sector. Now, scientists have discovered yet another potential source of green power drawn from the thermal motion of graphene at room temperature. The new technique captures the nanometre-sized rippling and random Read More...
Lighting systems that mimic natural light can help the elderly sleep better
Elderly residents of nursing homes have a tendency to fall asleep at any hour of the day. The problem with this is that they can get a bit too much sleep during the day, meaning they have periods of wakefulness during the night. This can lead to a vicious cycle of fragmented sleep, which can put Read More...
Get lost in these incredible x-ray images of the universe
You would only need to be subscribed to the Optimist Daily for a little while to know we are geeks for outer space. That’s why we were over the moon when NASA released a gallery of jaw-dropping imagery of the universe captured by telescopes from around the world. The gallery is a “treasure Read More...
Breath test detects 80 percent of cancer cases in first trials
Scientists in Australia have developed a special breath test that can quickly detect head and neck cancers with a high degree of accuracy. Around the world, head and neck cancers account for six percent of all cancers and kill around 300,000 people. Treatments can be effective, but that’s only Read More...
3D-printed decoy eggs are tracking down illegal wildlife traffickers
Kim Williams-Guillén became inspired to create decoy turtle eggs after watching a TV show called The Wire. In one episode, two police officers plant an audio device in a tennis ball to record a suspected drug dealer. Williams-Guillén had her "aha" moment while watching this, and was inspired to Read More...
In the future, this gravity-defying robot could help the elderly do chores
Earth’s population is rapidly aging. Whereas today there are ten people under age 65 for every one senior, the United Nations projects it will be just five to one by 2050. In some countries like Japan, it’ll be less than two to one, which means we will need solutions for how to take care of a Read More...