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.
New battery gobbles up carbon dioxide
A new type of battery developed by researchers at MIT could be made partly from carbon dioxide captured from power plants. Rather than attempting to convert carbon dioxide into specialized chemicals using metal catalysts, which is currently highly challenging, this battery could continuously Read More...
Solar power showed off its resiliency during Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence, the wettest tropical cyclone on record, left a trail of destruction within the Carolinas. This is obviously terrible news, but there is one positive we can take from this: most rooftop solar panel systems stayed intact and kept producing power after the storm, signifying that Read More...
Could hydrogen power be the answer for rural schools in Africa?
Like many schools in rural South Africa, Poelano Secondary School was often without electricity. Now the school has much needed access to electricity thanks to a fuel cell that converts water into hydrogen power. As more rural schools in Africa look for sustainable ways to generate power, hydrogen Read More...
Rap artists’ new love for Teslas is a good thing for the planet
Whether you like or not, celebrities can have a major influence on what the public takes a liking to. That’s why it’s good news that famous hip-hop artists like Kanye West are buying and bringing publicity to Teslas. Hip-hop artists have long been impressed by Ferraris, Benzes, and other Read More...
Community Microgrids for Disaster Resilience: A follow-up to “True Grid”
By Kristy Jansen California is suffering through a brutal fire season, Europe has faced a nasty heatwave all summer, and Japan recently experienced its worst typhoon in 25 years. 2017 was the costliest year for natural disasters in U.S. history with losses exceeding $1 billion, at a total Read More...
The Tesla of China is entering the American market
Nio is the only premium electric vehicle in China besides Tesla, and Nio’s seven-seat SUV is actually much cheaper than the Tesla Model X. Now Nio has listed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange as they prepare to become available on the market in Europe and the US. Whether Nio’s cheaper Read More...
Researchers: microgrids can supply 90 percent of a neighborhood’s energy needs
Under the Paris Agreement, the Dutch government has pledged to drop its carbon dioxide emissions by 80-95 percent by 2050. To reach such an ambitious goal without spending ridiculous amounts of money, the Netherlands is looking to make use of microgrids—decentralized energy grids that Read More...
Producing energy from your balcony may soon be possible thanks to new invention
Although cities are typically windy places, we currently have no means of harvesting that resource now. That’s why a duo of university students have created an mini-wind turbine that allows people in dense urban areas to generate energy from their apartment balconies. The innovative turbine has a Read More...
Fossil fuel demand to peak a decade earlier than expected
A new report warns that global demand for fossil fuels will peak a decade earlier than predicted. Whereas the demand for oil and gas were expected to reach their height in the mid-2030s, it now seems as if that time will come much earlier. That’s good news for the environment as renewables look Read More...
New plan calls for all buses in LA to be electric within a decade
According to a new plan in development by the City of Los Angeles, 45 percent of all private cars and trucks must be electric in 10 years. To help power those vehicles, the city plans to install as many as 130,000 new public chargers. On top of that, the entire bus fleet of the city will be 80 to Read More...