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.
A former landfill in Maryland becomes the perfect site for a community solar farm
Solar power is an effective way of producing clean, renewable, energy, but finding the space for large solar farms, especially in populated areas, can be a challenge. Fortunately for the residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland, they already had a large area of land unsuitable for Read More...
The first ever all-female spacewalk just took place in space this week
Seven months ago, we published a story about how the first all-female spacewalk was about to take place. That historic event wound up getting canceled, however, because the International Space Station (ISS) had only one medium-sized spacesuit on board. Flash forward to last Friday, and that Read More...
This prototype lets us harness renewable power from the ocean
Anyone who has come face to face with a large ocean swell can vouch for the immense power of our ocean systems. Capturing the power of our seas offers huge potential for renewable energy creation, but scientists have struggled to make it feasible. That, however, is about to change thanks to a new Read More...
A human burn has just been successfully treated using live-cell pig skin tissue
When someone has a severe burn, a protective covering needs to be temporarily grafted onto the wound site – and as soon as possible. Although that covering typically consists of skin from a human cadaver, genetically-engineered live-cell pigskin has now been used on a patient for the first time. Read More...
Your next in-flight meal may be served in a banana leaf
Climate activist Greta Thunberg made headlines this summer by choosing to sail, rather than fly, from Europe to the U.S. to take a stand against the heavy carbon footprint of airline travel. But what about the items on board? After all, the average airline passenger produces three pounds of waste Read More...
A giant aquarium filter has been put in an Oregon lake to help fish populations
Aquariums and fish tanks have filters that help keep their water oxygenated, so when researchers noticed that fish in Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon were struggling due to low oxygen levels, they built a lake-sized aquarium filter. The filters, which are the size of small garages, were built by the Read More...
Pittsburgh’s Micromobility Collective is making the sharing economy more efficient than ever
Talking to single mothers, college students, and construction workers needing transportation to sites in different areas of the city, Pittsburgh's director of transportation, Karina Ricks, realized the challenge of finding a public transportation system that works for everyone. In response, she Read More...
This man ran a marathon in under 2 hours
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge cemented himself as perhaps the greatest long-distance runner the world has ever seen after pulling off a superhuman feat in Vienna in 2019. At the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, Kipchoge became the first person ever to run a full marathon in under two hours. The elusive time Read More...
Gas pumps are starting to disappear in Norway
Norway’s consumption of gasoline and diesel fuel is starting to decline. The reason? As record numbers of drivers switch to electric vehicles, many gas stations are either closing or changing their pumps to electric charge stations. This comes as no surprise, as Norway possesses the largest Read More...
Renewables surpassed fossil fuels in the UK last quarter for the first time ever
We write about renewable energy milestones from time to time, but this one is rather special: for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, renewable energy sources provided more electricity to UK homes and businesses than fossil fuels over the last quarter. The renewables record was set in Read More...