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 math is helping find people lost at sea
Finding people lost at sea is an incredibly difficult task. The uncertain nature of tides and winds combined with dangerous exposure to elements means that the chances of rescuing people after six hours are very slim. Fortunately, a team of international researchers is using math to understand more Read More...
How drones rose up to the occasion during the coronavirus pandemic
It feels like drones were built for this moment. The coronavirus pandemic has forced everyone to spend the majority of their time indoors and, where possible, maintain a healthy distance from anyone that doesn’t live in the same building. Companies have introduced numerous measures to minimize Read More...
The enormous biofuel potential of Mexican prickly pear cacti
Nopal, also known as prickly pear cacti, are so common on the Mexican landscape that they are even featured on the country’s flag. The plants are used in salads, shakes, and even some tortilla recipes. Now, one innovative company is finding yet another purpose for the plant as a source of Read More...
Robot barista helps cafe in South Korea maintain social distancing
As South Korea recovers from the coronavirus, businesses in the country are getting creative to ensure that their customers are safe. Case in point: a café in Daejon, South Korea has hired a robot barista to take care of making and busing drinks around. Thanks to the robot, the café only has to Read More...
The world’s largest all-electric aircraft is set to fly today
A future of all-electric air travel seems to be on the horizon after it was announced that the world’s largest electric plane will take to the skies today. The Cessna Caravan, retrofitted with an electric engine, is expected to fly for 20-30 minutes over Washington state in the US. The plane Read More...
Researchers use drones to study active volcanoes up close
Active volcanoes are typically something to steer clear of, but for volcanologists, it’s their job to study these dangerous phenomena. Fortunately, they are now able to get up close and personal with active volcanoes without risking their own safety with the help of drones. Led by PhD Read More...
Increased bike sales in the UK show cycling is here to stay
More and more people are taking advantage of walking and biking to get out of the house and safely enjoy some fresh air and for many people, biking is here to stay. Bike shops across the UK can’t stock up as fast as they’re selling out and demand for repairs has skyrocketed. Bike shops Read More...
South Korea is on a mission to transform from carbon villain to model
A year ago, Soyoung Lee was one of a crowd of climate activists demonstrating on the streets of Seoul in a campaign inspired by the global school strike founder Greta Thunberg. Today, the 35-year-old lawyer is the youngest member of the South Korean parliament and a driving force in the Read More...
How AI can save the American West this fire season
The American West is heading into the dry season, but AI could help firefighters predict where fires are likely to break out for a less devastating fire season. A new deep-learning model maps out landscape dryness and the amount of burnable material across 12 states to get ahead of destructive Read More...
To save the Amazon rainforest, scientists turn to reverse-engineering
With software, taking something apart and putting it back together again can help engineers improve their understanding of the underlying source code of their software. In structural engineering, the same methods can determine the cause of potentially fatal design flaws. This is known as Read More...