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.
Researchers imagine system where EVs charge each other on the roads
If airplanes can refuel each other mid-air, then why not electric cars? A weird and wonderful, if probably impractical, idea out of the University of Florida would see vehicles in high-speed convoys sharing energy in a peer-to-peer model. To understand how it works, let’s first read a passage Read More...
AI helps diagnose signs of glaucoma 18 months earlier than current methods
From kidney stones to heart trouble, to cancer, artificial intelligence stands to revolutionize the field of medical diagnostics by spotting signs of disease earlier than us humans are capable of. Now, aided by the technology, scientists have developed a quick test to identify which people with Read More...
Minnesota scientists are making an experimental forest for a future climate
The landscape of Minnesota is changing as the climate crisis intensifies. Animals and plants that once were only found in the southern part of the state have moved north, suggesting that as the climate changes, Minnesota, by 2100, will start to resemble an environment similar to the one found in Read More...
New technique helps accurately detect plastic debris floating in the ocean
Spotting marine plastic debris is an extremely challenging task. And while satellite imagery is often the most optimal way to track plastic debris in the ocean, the images taken from space can’t always tell if something floating in the water is actually plastic or other natural objects like Read More...
UPS is going to use drones to deliver medicines to retirement village
After first announcing a drone delivery collaboration last October, UPS and CVS are pushing ahead with their vision for aerial shipments of medical goods. Announced today, the next phase of this partnership will see UPS drones deployed to carry prescription drugs from a Florida pharmacy to the Read More...
Britain has now gone over 18 days without using coal energy
Coal’s daily share of Britain’s power has faded away rapidly over the past few years. Whereas coal produced at least 50 percent of Britain’s energy most days of the year in 2012, coal has hardly contributed to the grid this year. In fact, the UK has gone without coal-fired power generation Read More...
Sweden closes last coal plant two years ahead of schedule
Sweden celebrated the closure of its last coal plant this month and even did so two years ahead of schedule. Swedish utility company Stockholm Exergi announced the closure of the KVV6 plant on April 16. The plant first opened in 1989 and was projected to be in use until 2022, but after the Read More...
Robots are already making contact-free deliveries in some American cities
You might not see many people walking down the sidewalk in downtown Fairfax, Virginia, during the pandemic, but it’s possible that you’ll see a robot. The city is the latest to partner with Starship Technologies, a company that makes small delivery robots and now operates a fleet of 20 in Read More...
Dive into underwater exploration with NOAA’s virtual diving experience
If you’ve always dreamed of diving in the oceans’ most beautiful habitats, you may have to wait a while to do so in person. Fortunately, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) is making it easier than ever to see some beautiful underwater sights from the comfort of your Read More...
How COVID-19 is reshaping our cities
COVID-19 is changing the shape of our cities. We have talked about cities like Oakland which are closing streets for pedestrians and the expansion of bike lanes in New York and Bogotá. The pandemic is continuing to revolutionize how people get around. Here are some ways our metropolitan areas are Read More...