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.
Toyota 'backs flying car project' in Japan
Japanese carmaker Toyota has announced its backing for a group of engineers who are developing a flying car. It will give 50 million yen (£274, 000) to the Cartivator group that operates outside Toyota city in central Japan. The Nikkei Asian Review reports Toyota and its group companies have Read More...
Turning coffee grounds into biofuel is economically viable with this new process
If turning used coffee grounds into biofuel sounds like a complex process, that’s because it is. The process is energy-intensive and time-consuming, which is why its widespread use is unlikely. That could soon change, however, as scientists from Britain’s Lancaster University have simplified Read More...
Giant wind farm delivers clean energy to 1.5 million people in the Netherlands
The second-largest offshore wind farm in the world has officially opened off the coast of the Netherlands. The 600-megawatt wind farm, known as Gemini, will provide a major boost to the Dutch grid as it will eventually generate enough power to meet the electricity needs of around 1.5 million Read More...
Experiments show that a few self-driving cars can dramatically improve traffic flow
The presence of just a few autonomous vehicles can eliminate the stop-and-go driving of the human drivers in traffic, along with the accident risk and fuel inefficiency it causes, according to new research. The finding indicates that self-driving cars and related technology may be even closer to Read More...
Renewables offer cheaper, more reliable power for Philippines' small islands
The Philippines can save $200 million a year and build a more reliable energy supply for millions of residents on its small islands by replacing diesel generators with renewable sources such as wind and solar, said a report released on Monday. The switch would require at least $1 billion in private Read More...
Harvard neuroscientist: Meditation reduces stress and changes your brain
Meditation, in its most basic sense, is clearing your mind of all thought—or at least, trying to. The practice is used in cultures around the globe for both religious and secular purposes. While it may be best known for its spiritual uses, it is this latter purpose that has recently ignited a Read More...
South Korea says it’s building the world’s largest test site for self-driving cars
Now that we have self-driving cars, the next big challenge is figuring out where to test them. Most experts agree that the best places to do that are giant, government-run, fenced-off fake cities that mimic all the real conditions of the road. To that end, South Korea’s government is building Read More...
The sunshine state prepares to embrace solar
Last week the Florida Senate passed a bill to implement wide-ranging changes that many expect will allow solar to, finally, take off in the state. Florida shifting to clean energy is a big deal. It’s the third most populous state and has some of the best solar resources in the Read More...
Solar power in India now cheaper than electricity from fossil fuels
India is committed to solar power. The country unveiled the world’s biggest solar farm earlier this year and has quadrupled its solar capacity in the last three years. On top of that, the price of solar power has dropped 40 percent in just one year, undercutting the price of fossil fuel-generated Read More...
Tesla's solar roof tiles are now available online
Last fall, Tesla announced that it had developed solar roof tiles that can generate enough energy to fully power an entire household. Tesla’s tiles work similarly to traditional solar power cells, but are designed to blend in within traditional roofing aesthetics. Now the solar roof tiles are up Read More...