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.
This solar panel generates green energy while purifying water
Access to clean energy and drinking water are among the primary challenges faced by remote communities in developing countries. Those two problems could now be solved in one stroke now that scientists in Saudi Arabia have developed a solar panel that not only generates electricity but also uses Read More...
Check out photos from the recent sunset solar eclipse
A solar eclipse happens once in a blue moon. Oh wait, that’s not right. Let’s be more specific: solar eclipses take place approximately every 18 months somewhere on Earth, although they only recur in any given place once every 360 to 410 years. The last solar eclipse happened just last week, Read More...
Taking a flight out of France in the future? Expect an ecotax starting 2020
Travelers looking to take a flight out of France will be charged an extra little fee starting in 2020. The good news—for the environmentalists— is that the fee is an “ecotax” to help combat the negative effects that the aviation industry has on the climate. The tax will vary depending on Read More...
Next time you need a creativity boost, try playing Minecraft
While video games are mainly a source of entertainment, new research suggests some games can also get your creative juices flowing. In a recent study, researchers from Iowa State University found that video games such as Minecraft may help increase creativity when players are given the freedom to Read More...
The first of Denmark's 48 ultra-fast charging stations is a beauty
At traditional gas stations, the “smells of gas fumes and car exhaust are the norm.” They are places where you get in and out, with no appreciation for the immediate surroundings. But this doesn’t have to be the case at electric charging stations. In Denmark, a new ultra-fast charging Read More...
Maryland’s EV tax credit was so popular it ran out before the fiscal year began
Maryland wanted more people to switch to electric cars, so the state put $6 million aside in a fund this year that would provide tax credits to residents who buy an EV. Under the deal, Maryland offered a $100 credit per kilowatt-hour of battery capacity for EVs and plug-in hybrids (with a maximum Read More...
Toyota has made a solar-powered Prius that charges while driving
Solar-powered cars aren’t as far away as you might think. Just last week, we wrote about the unveiling of the LightYear One EV, a slick solar-powered car with a range of 450 miles. Now a more mainstream automaker is getting in on the action: Toyota. Recently, the Japanese automaker unveiled an Read More...
Scientists are asking the public what we should do if aliens contact us
What should humanity do if we were contacted by aliens? No, seriously, what should humanity do? This is the question UK scientists are asking to the public after the UK Seti Research Network (UKSRN) came to the conclusion that the average person should have a say in how Earth responds should aliens Read More...
Chubb becomes America’s first insurance company to step away from coal
US insurance giant Chubb Limited just announced new policies when dealing with coal, and it’s not going to make friends of the fossil fuels industry happy. The company announced it no longer will underwrite the construction and operation of new coal-fired plants or new risks for companies that Read More...
Austria is poised to ban the common weedkiller Roundup
The popular herbicide Roundup is used globally by people trying to rid their gardens of weeds, and that’s a problem. Scientists have continued to find evidence that proves that Roundup, which was originally created by GMO giant Monsanto, is linked to cancer. The good news is government Read More...