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 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...
These life-like robots are helping frontline medical staff keep safe
As personal protective equipment in hospitals is in short supply these days, figuring out ways to reduce the exposure of medical workers to coronavirus patients while treating them at the same time is essential to ensure the safety of those best equipped to combat the pandemic. Turning robots into Read More...
This fishing line biodegrades under UV light
The fishing industry is estimated to contribute half of the plastic waste in our oceans. Fishing lines can take up to 600 years to biodegrade, so researchers at Cornell University are investigating a type of plastic that could biodegrade under UV light exposure. The type of plastic is called Read More...
These solar windows rival rooftop panels in terms of efficiency
Windows capable of harvesting energy from the sun have been on the horizon for a number of years, but they've yet to help cut down a building's energy costs. A new development from Australian researchers may change that. What the researchers have created are semi-transparent solar cells made of Read More...