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.
The world witnessed a 2% drop in overall carbon emissions last year
Good news from the green energy transition front: Carbon emissions generated by the electricity sector fell at the fastest rate in at least 30 years as countries turned their backs on coal, analysis suggests. Overall, coal-fueled electricity declined 3 percent in 2019, leading to a 2 percent fall Read More...
Doctors have cured a patient of HIV for only the second time ever
For only the second time in history, a man has been cured of HIV. That man is Adam Castillejo, and he is free of the virus more than 30 months after stopping antiretroviral therapy. He was not cured by the HIV drugs, however, but by a stem-cell treatment, he received for cancer he also had, the Read More...
Facebook’s new board members bring female representation to 40 percent
Facebook’s board became one of the most equitable among S&P 500 companies this week after appointing two new female directors. The addition of Tracey Travis and Nancy Killefer brings the Facebook Inc. board to 40 percent female. Travis is the chief financial officer of Estée Lauder Cos. Read More...
Norway to make all of its domestic flights electric by 2040
When it comes to the electric mobility revolution, Norway is certainly at its forefront. The country possesses the largest fleet of plug-in electric cars per capita in the world, with over 50 percent of Norway’s new car sales being electric. Now, the country plans to electrify its skies by making Read More...
Scientists may have discovered evidence of life of Mars
An international team of astrobiologists made an exciting discovery last week on Mars where they found the presence of “thiophenes,” special compounds found in coal, crude oil, and white truffles back on Earth. The research, published in the Astrobiology journal, explains that thiophenes Read More...
This nonprofit’s text-based tool is getting teens to quit vaping
The 21-year-old nonprofit best known for its bold anti-smoking ads is rising to meet the vaping crisis. Truth Initiative’s “Tested on Humans” campaign last summer (in which anthropomorphized animals expressed concern that humans are being used as guinea pigs to test the effects of vaping) Read More...
This pink bird is actually an AI device designed to help disabled people
Whether for better or worse, just about everyone has been impacted in some way by new technology. One cohort of people that have truly benefitted is the disabled, who have seen new technologies make living independently more possible. That brings us to Loro, a new device created by engineer David Read More...
How adventure tourism provided a lifeline to struggling coal towns
Although we staunchly support the transition away from coal energy, we cannot ignore the struggles of the many communities that have long relied on coal mining. Fayetteville, West Virginia, is just one of the many towns within Appalachia to be hit hard by the transition from fossil fuels to Read More...
Amsterdam’s classy canal boats are going electric ahead of diesel ban
Transitioning from vehicles powered by fossil fuels to electric vehicles doesn’t mean we have to lose the classic aesthetic of old cars and boats. To see what we mean, just look to Amsterdam where the famous canal boats have been getting a clean makeover. Building an entirely new electric canal Read More...
A new online tool is helping cities and businesses find the EVs they need
The technology driving clean transportation is rapidly evolving, so much so that it’s hard to keep track. That’s why a transportation nonprofit focused on cleantech has launched a new online tool called The Zero-Emission Technology Inventory to help cities and businesses know exactly what’s Read More...