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 discovery could lead to huge drop in solar power costs
A new breakthrough from scientists at Washington State University could soon cause the price of solar power to plunge well below the US Department of Energy’s 2030 cost targets for renewable energy way ahead of schedule. What the scientists have discovered is a new way to produce cadmium Read More...
Yale scientists discover potential off-switch for type-2 diabetes
At Yale University, scientists have been studying how fasting can drive the onset of type-2 diabetes. From this research, the scientists have unearthed a novel way of intervening and switching off the process that leads to type-2 diabetes. The research is described in a pair of studies published by Read More...
Renewable hydrogen is getting set to oust natural gas
An economy powered by hydrogen may seem like a distant dream, but the US Department of Energy is pouring millions of dollars into research and development to make it happen soon. The latest developments have all been about leveraging wind and solar energy to bring the cost of renewable hydrogen Read More...
New Red Sea bacteria could be the key to developing saltwater toilets
Freshwater is a scarce and valuable natural resource. Humans couldn’t survive without it, so why do we waste precious freshwater to flush our toilets? Researchers from Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are trying to solve this water-wasting dilemma with the Read More...
This harvester can pull record amounts of water out of thin air
Today we bring you a story from Johns Hopkins University where scientists have discovered materials that can collect huge amounts of water from the surrounding air. If this narrative sounds familiar, that’s because we’ve written about other companies and scientists that have created Read More...
3 effective and often-overlooked tips to reduce your home’s energy use
There’s no shortage of earnest advice about all of the ways you can reduce your energy use at home. Beyond the obvious stuff like setting your thermostat wisely, many of the tips, tricks, and optimizations take a lot of effort for a small payoff. From Liam McCabe at the New York Times, the Read More...
Planning a ski trip? Consider one of these eco-friendly resorts
For those of you who love the thrill of hitting the chilly slopes, skiing is one of winter’s most exciting prospects. Unfortunately, climate change is taking a toll on winter snow levels and, with high energy consumption, transportation emissions, and bulky equipment, the sport itself takes a Read More...
Descendants of an extinct species of Galápagos tortoise have just been found
Conservationists on the Galápagos Islands have discovered 30 giant tortoises partially descended from two extinct species, including that of the Lonesome George. If you can’t recall, Lonesome George was a famous giant tortoise that was over 100 years old and was the last of the Chelonoidis Read More...
Electric vehicles took center stage in Superbowl commercials this year
This weekend’s Superbowl was the biggest event of the year for the NFL, but the big game is also center stage for the advertising world. This year’s Superbowl commercials showed a distinct shift in business consciousness towards a greener future. Football enthusiasts saw prominent figures Read More...
Amateur astronomers discover new type of northern light
The dark winter months means the arrival of beautiful northern lights in the more extreme areas of our world. This year, amateur astronomers helped discover a new type of northern light scientists are calling “dunes” due to their rolling, wave-like appearance. Northern lights are kind of Read More...