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.
New study details the surprisingly social behavior of Gray reef sharks
Yesterday, we shared a story about how animals also engage in the practice of social distancing in order to mitigate the spread of disease. Today, we have quite a different story about the surprisingly social behavior of gray reef sharks. Apparently, a new study has found that these sharks form Read More...
This rig lets wheelchair users go on off-road adventures
Just because someone has limited mobility, does that mean they should be limited to traversing smooth pavement? Not according to husband-and-wife team Zack and Cambry Nelson, who are now marketing their off-road motorized “wheelchair." Known as The Rig and made mainly from bicycle parts, the Read More...
This lab is preparing the US for the transition to a renewable grid
The ever-growing collection of renewable energy technologies will transform our energy systems to be greener and more reliable, but updating our electricity grid to support renewable energy is no easy feat. It means overhauling and improving infrastructure throughout the entire country. This Read More...
Modular electric microbus can turn into 10 different vehicles
Imagine a car that you could modify into whatever type of vehicle is best suited for the trip you’re about to take. A German company has manufactured exactly that by designing a modular electric vehicle that comes in various forms, be it a camper, a dump truck, a bus, and even a pickup Read More...
Mapping the Ocean: Robot boat completes 22-day-mission without crew
The more we know about the Earth’s oceans, the more we can do to protect them. But we still know relatively little. As of June, only 19 percent of the ocean floor had been mapped out, meaning we still have a whopping 81 percent of the ocean to survey and map. Fortunately, scientists are finding Read More...
England says goodbye to one of the country’s last remaining coal mines
The doom of coal is on its way in England as the country prepares the closure of one of its last remaining coal mines located in the north of the country, only two months after another nearby mine ended its coal production. Banks Group, the owner of the surface mine, applied for permission to Read More...
Well Done: The foundation plugging abandoned oil wells in Montana
Montana may be known for its stunning grass plains, but what most people don’t know is that there are many unplugged oil wells across the state’s farmlands that leak thousands of metric tons of greenhouse gasses such as methane each year. They can also leach toxins into groundwater and surface Read More...
CBD’s blood flow boosting powers could help prevent Alzheimer’s
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, has gained popularity in recent years as a health-boosting relaxation tool. This non-psychoactive component of cannabis has been used for everything from treating sore muscles to preventing seizures and new research shows CBD could even be effective in preventing Read More...
Virtual Reality can help fight racism in the workplace. Here's how
What better way to teach someone about the issues of racism or sexism in the workplace other than putting them in the shoes of a person experiencing such forms of discrimination? Well, that’s exactly what US startup Vantage Point does with its training programs that use virtual reality (VR) Read More...
How a urine test could replace painful biopsies for skin cancer patients
This weekend, we wrote about a bacteria-sampling pill that could be used to replace uncomfortable colonoscopies. On a similar note, today we are reporting on a recent scientific breakthrough that could help doctors monitor skin cancer without the need for invasive biopsies. Researchers at the Read More...