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.
Coal is giving way to renewables in India’s energy future
Coal is increasingly falling out of favor as a potential energy source in India. Despite being the world’s second-largest producer and importer, the fossil fuel is becoming less attractive to potential investors because it's too expensive relative to renewable energy alternatives such as wind and Read More...
New innovative solar cells deliver twice as much energy as traditional ones
Conventional solar panels on the market collect sunlight on their entire surface, converting it to electricity at 15 to 19 percent efficiency – meaning about 85 percent of the energy is lost in the process. There are more efficient cells out there, but they generally come at a great cost. Swiss Read More...
Audi is helping drivers avoid red lights by suggesting speeds
There’s no better feeling for a driver than when you get a string of consecutive green lights so that you can cruise smoothly through the city. Getting a wave of green lights is usually a matter of luck, but Audi wants to make it possible for you every time you drive through it’s Traffic Light Read More...
Scientists unveil new method that turns used plastic bags into batteries
Plastic bag pollution has become a major environmental challenge, pushing cities and countries around the world to heavily tax or ban the sacks. But what if discarded plastic bags could be made into higher-value products? Recently, researchers have come up with a new method of converting plastic Read More...
Innovative material uses sunlight to purify drinking water
Considering that more than 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, innovative solutions to the global water crisis are at an all-time premium. With that in mind, a team of researchers has recently developed a “green” material that uses sunlight to purify enough daily Read More...
These artificial leaves pull carbon dioxide out of thin air to create fuel
Researchers have designed artificial leaves that suck carbon dioxide out of the air and create oxygen. Well isn’t that what leaves already do, you might be asking? Yes, but where these artificial leaves differ is that they can trap carbon dioxide and turn it into carbon monoxide, which can then Read More...
EV wireless charging could become a reality sooner than you think
Electric vehicles have several advantages over vehicles with diesel or petrol-driven motors, but having to plug them in every day isn’t one of them. The good news is that soon EV drivers might not need to worry about that as companies are working on making wireless charging a reality. WiTricity, Read More...
Study: Electric cars are cheaper to own and run than gas-powered cars
If you’ve been looking to buy a new car as of late, you may have noticed that electric cars at the dealership are a tad more expensive than gas-powered cars. That, however, is only the upfront cost and has nothing to do with how much the car will cost you in the years following your purchase. If Read More...
New discovery could lead to medicine that enables the brain to heal itself
Most cells in the body can patch up damage by dividing to create new versions of themselves. But the neurons in our brain lack this ability, so once they're damaged through illness or injury, there's not much that can be done. Worse still, in an overzealous attempt to protect the injured site, Read More...
Los Angeles abandons plan to spend billions of dollars to rebuild gas plants
Los Angeles is making steady efforts in its swift energy transition from fossil fuels to more climate-friendly energy sources. With coal almost out of the picture, the city is now ready to part ways with natural gas too. In a move to get the city closer to its goal of 100 percent renewable energy Read More...