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.
Volvo becomes first car maker to stop making gas vehicles in 2019
One had to be the first. Volvo has announced that from 2019 onwards all their cars will be partially or completely battery-powered. The company refers to a “historic end” to building models that only have an internal combustion engine. The move by the Scandinavian car manufacturer underlines Read More...
France to end sale of diesel and gasoline vehicles by 2040
France aims to end the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040 and become carbon neutral 10 years later, Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot said on Thursday at a presentation of measures to keep up momentum on the Paris climate agreement. French President Emmanuel Macron wants to press ahead with Read More...
Google spun out a new company that heats your home with geothermal energy
X, the "moonshot" division of Google's parent company Alphabet, has spun out a new geothermal heating and cooling company called Dandelion, the company announced Thursday. Dandelion comes from a previously undisclosed project at X that began two years ago. It'll be run as a separate Read More...
New bill allows German tenants to generate solar power on rented roofs
Supporters of solar power have won a big victory in Berlin after lawmakers passed legislation that will allow owners of tenant blocks a subsidy for generating solar power on rooftops. As many as 3.8 million rental properties in the German capital could benefit from the newly introduced subsidy. At Read More...
How video games helped give us the self-driving car
Self-driving cars. They're the future of transportation — and they're getting smarter all the time. Thanks to advances in software and artificial intelligence, these machines are now able to distinguish between cars and cyclists, or between pedestrians and your pet. Many can now "see" just Read More...
This has to be the cutest solar farm in the world
For those who don’t think solar panels can be aesthetically pleasing, take a look at the Panda Power Plant in Datong, China. The solar farm, which will have an aggregate installed capacity of 100 MW, is shaped like the country’s treasure animal—the panda. While the black parts of the panda, Read More...
Electric cars reach record 42 percent of Norway’s total new car sales
While most countries have difficulties making electric cars reach 2% or 3% of their total car sales, Norway keeps pushing the bar higher and higher. Last month was another record month for the country with electric cars representing 42% of its new vehicles being registered. That’s a Read More...
The world’s first energy-harvesting smart street has opened in London
Pavegen, a company that produces tiles that generate electricity from footsteps, has transformed a path in London’s West End into the world’s first energy-harvesting smart street. The company installed a 107-square-foot array in Bird Street to harness and convert footsteps into electricity, Read More...
NASA mimics gecko feet to create device that will adhere to almost anything
Drawing inspiration from the sticky feet of geckos, NASA scientists have invented a device that can grip almost anything. The “gecko gripper” uses minuscule silicon wedges to latch onto a wide range of slippery surfaces, like solar panels and plastics. The grippers can work with heavy objects, Read More...
Germany produced record 35 percent of power from renewables in first half
Germany raised the proportion of its power produced by renewable energy to 35 percent in the first half of 2017 from 33 percent the previous year, according to the BEE renewable energy association. Germany is aiming to phase out its nuclear power plants by 2022. Its renewable energy has been rising Read More...