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.
How drones and AI can restore degraded ecosystems
Over the last several centuries, humans have felled around 2 billion hectares of forest, leaving behind an area of degraded land comparable to the size of Australia. To restore these ecosystems that are essential in our fight against global warming, we need urgent reforestation efforts that go Read More...
The Mayflower: Robotic vessel will cross Atlantic to gather ocean data
Robotic ships are the latest trend in ocean exploration. In August, we wrote about an automated 12-meter boat that successfully completed a 22-day-long mission to map an area of the seafloor in the Atlantic—without a crew. Today, we bring you news about another robotic vessel that is getting Read More...
Researchers prepare first human trials for a bionic eye
Back in June, we shared a story about a new bionic eye created at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Now, a team of researchers and doctors in Australia are preparing for the world’s first human clinical trials of a bionic eye in hopes of soon distributing the innovative technology Read More...
Pineapple leaves can help extend the lifespan of fresh fruit and vegetables
Every year, the world wastes about one-third of all food produced for human consumption, a great amount of which results from inadequate storage and processing facilities for post-harvest produce. Developing technologies that help keep food fresh for longer is one of the most effective ways to save Read More...
Drone exploration discovers large Native American settlement from 1600s
The bird’s eye view from drones gives us a unique perspective on our world. A drone flying over a cattle ranch in Kansas recently made a surprising discovery: the remnants of a large indigenous community built by ancestors of today’s Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. The drone spotted the Read More...
Why passenger planes may soon fly in formation just like birds
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Soon, it may be hard to tell, as giant aerospace company Airbus has recently come up with a method to save jet fuel that involves having airplanes fly in formation, just like a flock of migrating geese. Inspired by the flight technique of migrating birds, researchers Read More...
Monitoring brainwaves during sleep can pinpoint best antidepressant
One major problem with antidepressants is that patients have to take the drug for at least a month to know whether or not it works. But that could soon change after researchers found a quicker, more effective way to gauge the effectiveness of an antidepressant: monitoring a patient’s brainwaves Read More...
A look inside the race to create functional artificial blood
Someone in the US needs a blood transfusion, alluding to the importance of blood supplies to modern healthcare. The problem is blood is in incredibly short supply, and the pandemic has only made things worse due to the forced cancellation of many collection drives. That’s why there has been a Read More...
Google promises to operate using only carbon-free energy by 2030
This week, Google announced that it will go beyond its commitment to offset its carbon footprint with renewable energy generation and will strive to power its data centers and offices using solely carbon-free electricity by 2030. To put this commitment in perspective, Google consumes slightly Read More...
This lab is using AI to spot wildfires just minutes after they start
Most fire services rely on human spotters to identify and report new blazes, but Descartes Lab, a Santa Fe-based startup, aims to revolutionize the wildfire reporting process using cloud-based AI to identify fire outbreaks minutes after they happen. The lab uses AI to analyze huge amounts of Read More...