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.
The cost of high-efficiency solar panels fell 37 percent in 2017
In 2017, the price for high-efficiency solar panels dropped from 72¢/W to 45¢/W, representing a 37 percent decline in cost. The falling price point is driven by several factors, including American consumer demand for higher solar efficiency to compensate for the higher-than-average energy Read More...
Here's why China is set to become a leader in self-driving cars
How self-driving cars become a part of the way we travel relies not on the technology, but rather, on the way society accepts self-driving cars. According to a new survey, the Chinese public is better poised to accept autonomous vehicles than Americans are, mainly because they trust the technology Read More...
The countries poised to become “renewable superpowers”
The fossil fuel era won’t last forever. And a new set of nations will find their reserves of lithium, copper and rare earth metals in high Read More...
Coal power continues its slow march toward death
In 2017, sustainable energy has become "the new normal" in America, and coal power continues slipping away. Coal production slightly increased in 2017, as did coal prices. But that's not because more Americans are using coal energy. Instead, American coal has become more valuable for its Read More...
How colorful colonies of bacteria could one day grow organic "paints"
A lot of bacteria might have a bad rep, but with a little genetic tweaking we can put them to work producing drugs, cleaning water, detecting long-forgotten landmines, and repairing concrete. Now a team from the University of Cambridge and a Dutch company called Hoekmine BV has outlined how we Read More...
Renewables will be the dominant source of energy sooner than you think
The plummeting price of renewable energy has led to a massive increase in clean energy capacity around the world. In fact, China is expected to become the first major country where renewables become the dominant source of energy in 2022. Spain and the United Arab Emirates are expected to reach grid Read More...
This computer uses light—not electricity—to train AI algorithms
William Andregg ushers me into the cluttered workshop of his startup Fathom Computing and gently lifts the lid from a bulky black box. Inside, a green light glows faintly from a collection of lenses, brackets, and cables that resemble an exploded telescope. It’s a prototype computer that Read More...
These tiny paper-based fuel cells run on bodily fluids
Disposable diagnostics tests such as pregnancy tests require small batteries or fuel cells to work. Considering that these devices can typically only be used once, an engineer is developing small, nontoxic, inexpensive fuel cells that can be disposed of without ecological impact.There are two Read More...
The world’s first floating wind farm is generating more energy than expected
The world’s first floating wind farm, which is located off the coast of Scotland, is showing that generating great amounts of energy is possible in places with deep seabeds. Although Scotland’s floating wind farm only switched on three months ago, it’s already performing far better than Read More...
This company achieved a breakthrough on the way to the “hydrogen economy”
Hydrogen is an all-purpose element that can be produced without greenhouse gases and used to create anything from fertilizers to fuel. The only problem is extracting it from water is both expensive in terms of money and energy. Attempts at producing hydrogen at a lesser cost haven’t been all too Read More...