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.
Global wind energy capacity hits all time high; it grew by a fifth last year
The past year was a good one for renewables as the world’s wind power capacity grew by almost a fifth in 2019, boosted by a boom of wind farms in China and the US. The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) found that wind power capacity grew by 60.4 gigawatts, or 19 percent, compared with 2018, in Read More...
The UK’s parliament pension fund is dumping fossil fuel investments
Good news from the clean energy front in the UK: The Parliament’s pension fund, which takes care of the pensions for members of parliament (MP), has made record investments in renewable energy and cut its exposure to fossil fuel companies. A new report from the £700m pension fund showed that Read More...
NASA’s “Perseverance” rover will still launch on time this summer
The new Mars rover, scheduled to launch in July, is most appropriately named “Perseverance.” Despite budget complications and the global COVID-19 pandemic, NASA is confident that the six-wheeled rover will still take off this summer. According to division director Lori Glaze, the rover is Read More...
Children’s book authors are hosting virtual live readings for kids
Last week we shared a story about how artists are hosting virtual concerts via Instagram to keep self-distancing fans entertained. Now, online platforms are hosting something more entertaining for a younger generation: children’s book authors performing live readings for elementary school Read More...
London gives streetlamps double-duty by turning them into EV charging points
As an increasing number of people are opting for electric vehicles in search of cleaning their environmental footprint, cities are facing the challenge of finding ways to install charging infrastructure on their streets without having to severely disrupt current urban layouts. In London, however, Read More...
This company is using drones to help fight malaria
Technology is a critical tool in modern medicine. In parts of Africa, drones are becoming a vital resource for combating malaria. A “crowd-droning” platform called Globhe is providing critical information for public health agencies on population statistics and potential mosquito breeding Read More...
Why cutting fares can make public transport safer right now
The coronavirus’s spread has placed American transit agencies in a bind. Ridership has nosedived — as much as 70% on the Bay Area’s BART system — bringing a corresponding drop in revenue collected from fares. With millions of Americans working from home and sheltering in place, health Read More...
How breast milk can shield premature babies from sepsis
Late-onset sepsis is a big medical challenge for babies born prematurely. Unfortunately, about ten percent of infants born preterm experience late-onset sepsis and 30 percent to 50 percent of those who develop the infections die. Researchers have found that a molecule called epidermal growth Read More...
Fear can spread faster than any virus. Here’s how to stop it
The basis of a pandemic is the rapid spread of disease, but feelings of fear and panic can spread even faster than a highly contagious virus. The global reach of modern media, paired with images of empty stores and messages of economic doom, demonstrate how the fear of contagion is inflicting our Read More...
3D printed valves are saving the lives of COVID-19 patients
It is clear that 3D printing will have a big impact on the medical world in the near future. For hospitals in Northern Italy facing rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, the technology is already saving lives. When doctors needed a replacement valve for a reanimation device and the supplier was out, Read More...