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 silkworm-based coating could soon replace the toxic chemicals in our clothes
More than 150 chemicals are now regularly used to enhance the characteristics of the clothes we wear each day. Some of these chemicals are demonstrated carcinogens, or capable of reproduction, nervous, and endocrine system dysregulation. Others are allergenic or irritating. And even when we wash Read More...
How community solar is pushing New York towards 100% renewables
Even if many New Yorkers would like to power their homes with solar energy, they wouldn’t be able to—unless they own a building and put solar panels on the roof themselves. But as the city pushes for 100 renewables, providing the opportunity for everyday New Yorkers to get involved in solar Read More...
Waste from Ghana’s chocolate production is being used to create a clean biofuel
The majority of chocolate is made from cocoa beans coming from Africa. For every ton of cocoa beans harvested, another 10 tons of cocoa pod husks are produced, which are typically left to decompose on the cocoa plantation or thrown away. Now, researchers have developed a system that will use the Read More...
Researchers reveal pathway towards achieving 100% clean energy before 2050
In an attempt to show that transitioning to a global 100 percent renewable energy system is no longer a matter of technical feasibility or economic viability, but one of political will, a Finnish university has published a comprehensive global roadmap on how the world can reduce its carbon Read More...
Parkinson’s patients walk freely once more thanks to electrical stimulus
For many patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, walking normally simply isn’t possible. Scientists believe this is because Parkinson’s disrupts the signals that the brain and the legs send to each other in order to move. Based upon this inference, scientists in Canada have been testing Read More...
The coal-to-clean transition is a job boomer across the US
A common argument for the renewable revolution is that clean energy sources like wind and solar put far less of a burden on the environment than burning fossil fuels. But increasing investments in the renewable energy sector has another strong point: it can significantly foster job growth. In the Read More...
Britain went the entire Easter weekend without using coal power
This weekend, Britain showed that it’s possible in this day and age to live without coal —at least, when the conditions are right. For a stretch of time spanning more than 90 hours this Easter weekend, Britain generated no electricity at all from coal, marking the longest period since the Read More...
China’s huge electric bus fleet is paying off, both socially and environmentally
Making transportation greener has been a central theme to today's Optimist Daily. We've had a story on cargo ships, another on planes, and now another about electric busses. According to research, electric buses alone will save an astounding 270,000 barrels of diesel demand in 2019 – every single Read More...
NYC approves law that targets its biggest source of CO2 emissions: buildings
Since the building and construction sector is responsible for around 30 percent of global energy consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions that come with it, decarbonizing our buildings is an essential step for curbing climate change. On Thursday, the city of New York demonstrated that it’s Read More...
Powering the world through wave energy could soon become a reality
Generating energy from waves has long been somewhat of a pipe dream, but that could all change soon as Hawaii gets set to test a massive new energy generating device. The device comes from an Ireland-based company by the name of Ocean Energy, and its CEO believes that wave energy could supply 10 Read More...