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.
Astronauts could soon be eating veggies in space instead of freeze-dried foods
With the International Space Station (ISS) set to retire within a decade, conversation is brewing about a possible lunar base on the moon. With much more space to work with than on board the ISS, that opens up the possibility of building pods where veggies can be grown. Currently NASA is teaming up Read More...
New device turns CO2 from the air into electricity and hydrogen fuel
Following the urgent environmental need to not only cut down carbon emissions but also capture existing CO2 from the atmosphere, scientists have developed a new device that absorbs the gas from the air and transforms it into electricity and usable hydrogen fuel. The device works like a big liquid Read More...
Nearly three-quarters of new power capacity in India came from renewables
Of all the power generation capacity that India added to its grid in 2018, 74 percent of that capacity was based on renewable energies. Not that this is a new record for India in terms of new capacity addition, but it also shows just how committed the country is towards transitioning to 100 percent Read More...
This utility company is set to install 30 million solar panels by 2030
Florida Power and Light, the third largest electric utility in the United States, has vowed to install 30 million solar panels by 2030. Taking the rough estimate of 350 watts per panel, the energy utility’s target would amount to 10,500 megawatts, which is five times more than the total installed Read More...
Lab-grown human blood vessels could lead to new treatment for vascular diseases
Stem cell researchers in Canada have successfully managed to grow human blood vessels in the lab. Why is this a big deal? Because it allows researchers to potentially unravel the causes and treatments for a variety of vascular diseases by allowing risk-free experimentation on live human Read More...
Washington D.C. is doubling its commitment to renewable energy
In order to cut its carbon emissions by 50 percent in a little more than a decade, Washington DC is passing a new law that calls for 100 percent renewable electricity by 2032. The deadline is 13 years earlier than those in California or Hawaii, which are also moving to 100 percent renewable energy. Read More...
New deal offers open access to a big number of German research papers
Advocates of eradicating paywalls on scientific articles claim a win as a groundbreaking deal allows free public access to a considerable number of German studies. Wiley, an academic publisher headquartered in New Jersey, has made an agreement with a group of German libraries, universities, and Read More...
Paper-thin Bluetooth chip uses radio frequencies to harvest energy
Wiliot, a semiconductor company, has developed a paper-thin, battery-free Bluetooth tag, which can serve as a power unit for devices connected to the Internet of Things. The postage stamp-sized chip is able to harvest energy from ambient radio frequencies around us, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Read More...
How heat pumps could reduce the high carbon footprint of heating your house
Heat pumps could be the answer to offsetting the considerably high carbon footprint of heating people’s homes during the cold season. Compared to furnaces and boilers, heat pumps are more energy efficient as they simply move heat from one place to another, and can both heat and cool the home. Read More...
Tesla unveils first home charging station that can be plugged into a wall outlet
Tesla today is launching a new home charging station designed for the modern home. The new Wall Connector is the auto maker’s first home charging solution that can be plugged into a wall outlet rather than being hardwired into the home’s electrical system. This charger can plug directly into a Read More...