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.
Only 12% of the banana plant is used. This process turns the rest into bioplastic
The growing of bananas is a particularly wasteful form of agriculture, with only 12 percent of the plant actually being used. The pseudostem makes up much of the rest, and while it can be composted or used in the production of textiles, it's usually just thrown away. In order to bring new value Read More...
Why the MTA flooded its own subway entrance in Brooklyn
A flooded subway entrance stopped Brooklyn commuters in their tracks. For four hours on Wednesday, the staircase leading down to Broadway Station in Williamsburg was blocked off and completely submerged. The sight was even stranger since it hadn’t rained in New York City that day. It turns Read More...
Why flight shaming should be directed at those funding pricey airport expansions
Before the Thanksgiving holiday, a record-breaking 31.6 million passengers were expected to fly on US airlines—a 3.7 percent increase over 2018. Airports had to brace for bigger crowds than ever, and that was no coincidence. Rather, it was by design: US airlines added an estimated 859 Read More...
FDA endorses psilocybin with Breakthrough Therapy classification
Just months after we dedicated a week to the magnificent mushroom, the FDA has approved psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound of magic mushrooms, as a Breakthrough Therapy for the second time this year. This designation means research can be fast-tracked into psilocybin’s application for Read More...
The ancient plant that's helping Indonesia modernize its electricity grid
As a nation made up of 17,000 islands, one of Indonesia’s most challenging problems in the 21st century has been modernizing its electric grid. But now on the island of Siberut, some electricity-starved hamlets are sustainably developing their own energy by relying on a material that has Read More...
This Kickstarter product will turn your phone into a microscope
Smartphones changed photography forever by making the camera a staple on every new smartphone produced. Now a new kickstarter campaign is planning to revolutionize the microscope industry by turning any smartphone camera into a portable microscope. The new product named DIPLE is a small Read More...
How to create an online community free of trolls
This Thanksgiving week we’ve been publishing stories that emphasize the powerful role of community. And we’re not just talking about physical communities! We also recognize the power that online communities can empower people…if done right. Creating an online community is a bit like opening Read More...
Fertility tracking? There’s an app for that!
We use technology for almost every aspect of our everyday lives. We use apps to order food, find transportation, track our exercise, and even find the nearest bathroom. A new tech boom in fertility apps means that yes when it comes to reproductive health, there’s an app for that! Fertility Read More...
This startup is using tech to help immigrant communities thrive in America
While there are plenty of online networking tools these days, there’s only one like Homeis. That’s because Homeis specializes in building networks that are focused on the needs of specific immigrant communities and helping them find things like new friends and job opportunities. The startup Read More...
Why winter sunsets are best, according to a meteorologist
With the days becoming shorter and shorter, the people over at Vox started noticing that the sunsets at their office in Washington DC were becoming more beautiful. This made them beg the question: Is it possible that late fall and winter sunsets are just ... better? As it turns out, sunsets are, Read More...