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.
These scientists are turning a common type of plastic waste into clean fuels
While many people like to think that recycling is the antidote to our plastic problems, the reality is that most plastic waste doesn’t get recycled. On top of that, plastics that are recycled can only be recycled a couple times before the material is rendered useless and becomes waste. Read More...
Australian court rejects construction of coal mine over climate concerns
Australia has been one of the slowest nations when it comes to ditching coal, but now it seems they're getting with the program. Recently, a landmark ruling rejected the construction of a coal mine because of its potential impact on the environment. The ruling represents the first time a new coal Read More...
How origami inspired designers to create blinds that generate solar energy
If you’ve been following the Optimist Daily for the past couple years, you’ll know that many companies are trying to design windows that can harvest energy from sunlight. The problem is often these solar windows are inefficient and block sunlight from getting through, darkening rooms in the Read More...
Lyft will soon allow riders to request an electric vehicle
More companies nowadays are looking for innovative ways to transform their rudimentary business strategies into greener ones that spare the planet. One such company, Lyft, has committed itself to attaining complete carbon neutrality in the near future. Though sometimes it’s quite hard to say Read More...
Moonstruck - A Reflection on Audacious Goals
Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse - credit Justin Foley by Kristy Jansen On January 20, 2019, the total lunar eclipse and resulting blood moon captivated millions in the western hemisphere. My husband and I took our dog to an open space near our house to watch it. Staring up at the night sky and Read More...
These engineers are making bricks out of your poop
The waste from your own body that you flush down the toilet goes through an extensive journey long after you’ve left the bathroom. From the toilet it descends through a series of pipes before it winds up at a waste water treatment center where it’s extracted from the water and decontaminated, Read More...
How the lamprey could lead to better treatments for spinal cord injuries
Time to get scientific: At the University of Chicago, researchers have been taking a close look at the eel-like lamprey, which can fully regenerate its spinal cord even after being severed—within three months the lamprey is swimming, burrowing, and flipping around again as if nothing happened. Read More...
Scientists discover flying squirrels that glow pink in the dark
Imagine you were out in your backyard when suddenly, a hot-pink squirrel flew by. That’s exactly what happened to a biologist in Wisconsin when he flashed his flashlight at a southern flying squirrel, a small, furry creature. Typically it has a warm brown color, but in the beam of a flashlight, Read More...
More Africans have access to electricity than ever thanks to solar energy
Africa’s great size, along with a number of different factors, has made it an extremely difficult task to create electrical grids that consistently deliver power. This has led more and more people to rely on less-clean energy sources such as kerosene or diesel fuel. The good thing is Africa has Read More...
Scientists edge one step closer to a potential cure for type 1 diabetes
Successful treatments for type 1 diabetes are scarce. Pancreas transplants are one method for curing the disease, but they frequently fail and still require drugs that suppress your immune system. However, a new, better treatment may be on the horizon after a team of scientists out of UCSF managed Read More...