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.
California electric vehicle sales jump 91 percent in first quarter
Electric vehicles are leaving car dealerships faster than ever before. EV sales in California during the first quarter of 2017 were up 91 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago, with nearly 14,000 electric cars being sold in the state. Best of all, EV sales are expected to keep rising as Read More...
The Swiss choose clean energy future and ban new nuclear power plants
Switzerland has its eyes set on a clean energy future. On Sunday, Swiss voters backed the government’s plan to provide billions of dollars in subsidies for renewable energy, ban new nuclear plants and help bail out struggling utilities. The Swiss initiative mirrors efforts elsewhere in Europe to Read More...
Charging ahead: Welsh battery scheme may aid growth of green energy
Nestling alongside rows of conifers and wind turbines in a Welsh valley, a pioneering project will materialise this summer that could prove a blueprint for unlocking Britain’s renewable energy potential. The Upper Afan Valley near Swansea is already home to the biggest windfarm in England and Read More...
Solar rise: It’s smarter to invest in renewable energy in India than the US
India has passed the U.S. to take the second spot on a list of the world’s most attractive renewable energy markets. China is number one on the list. The U.S. fell to the third position from number one last year mostly due to a shift in domestic energy policy under President Donald Trump. India Read More...
How Israeli startups are driving the car technology revolution
Israeli startups are revving their engines ahead of the country’s largest-ever “smart transportation” event. Over 200 local companies working in transportation technology will be at the EcoMotion Conference on Thursday at the Peres Center for Peace in Jaffa. The plan is to give Read More...
Automakers are betting on hydrogen-powered cars— here are 12 in the works
From an infrastructure standpoint, purely electric vehicles make more sense. There are 15,959 electric charging stations in the United States, but only 35 hydrogen stations in the entire US, according to the US Department of Energy. Of those 35 hydrogen stations, only 3 can be found outside of Read More...
Microbial fuel cell converts methane to electricity
Transporting methane from gas wellheads to market provides multiple opportunities for this greenhouse gas to leak into the atmosphere. Now, an international team of researchers has taken the first step in converting methane directly to electricity using bacteria, in a way that could be done near Read More...
Flying cars set for takeoff at Tokyo Olympics in 2020
Japan has taken a step closer to realizing its dream of launching flying cars in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, following investment from a major car company. Toyota is funding a project which aims to bring the world’s smallest flying car to the skies using the latest drone technology. Its Read More...
GM goal: profitable, affordable electric cars built in big numbers
Automotive innovation rolls out over many years, usually decades, and usually only a few companies lead. Others hang back, waiting to see if buyers will accept new features, new powertrains, and new types of vehicles. More than six years after modern electric cars hit the market in volume, many Read More...
UK renewables break records, coal drops to 6 percent
The first quarter of the year was an impressive one for the UK’s renewable energy fleet, with wind farms, biomass, and hydro all recording their highest ever quarterly output and solar power reaching a new high of its own for peak power output. According to Drax Electric Insights, with data Read More...