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.
Climate change action is good for the economy – and Britain is the proof
Just before the Rio Earth summit 25 years ago, John Major, in whose cabinet I then served as environment secretary, made a bold prediction: reducing Britain’s carbon emissions in line with recommendations of climate science would not, he said, harm our economy: “Our initial measures ... Read More...
Solar textiles project wins global change award
A proposed process to create a precursor for nylon using solar power, water and plant waste has won a 2017 Global Change Award from the H&M Foundation. Nylon was created accidentally in 1930 and is everywhere today. The thermoplastic material is used primarily for flooring, molded car parts, Read More...
Electric utilities ignore politics and keep moving away from coal
When it comes to the future of clean energy, economics is more important than politics. That’s the clear message from electric utilities in the U.S. Despite a new administration keen on restoring the coal industry, operators around the country are closing coal-fired power plants. In the next four Read More...
A student self-driving taxi startup wants to challenge Uber, Tesla and Detroit
Here’s why the electric self-driving car will conquer society even faster than you now dare to imagine. Remember building a website twenty years ago? It took a lot of money and months of work. Today websites can be built in minutes using templates stored in the cloud. The same is happening with Read More...
Amazon will replace some of its electric forklifts with hydrogen fuel cell ones
On Wednesday, hydrogen fuel cell company Plug Power announced that Amazon would be changing its electric forklifts to hydrogen fuel cell-powered ones at 11 of its fulfillment centers. According to Reuters, Amazon secured the right to buy up to 23 percent of the company as well, which would make the Read More...
Are electric airplanes finally ready to take off?
Fasten your seat belts, ensure tables are stowed—and check the batteries for charge. At least, that’s what the preflight checklist might be for a pair of plucky new startups promising to build passenger electric Read More...
The end of coal: EU energy companies pledge no new plants from 2020
Europe’s energy utilities have rung a death knell for coal, with a historic pledge that no new coal-fired plants will be built in the EU after 2020. The surprise announcement was made at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, 442 years after the continent’s first pit was sunk by Read More...
Tidal wave energy is finally taking off
Tidal wave power has enormous potential. Experts estimate that movement in the planet’s waters could generate 300 gigawatts of electricity by 2050 if harnessed properly. That’s the equivalent of 250 nuclear reactors. A big new project off the coast of Scotland is aiming to prove that the Read More...
So you want to revive rural America. Try wind turbines, not coal mines
For half a century, Tim Hemphill grew corn and soybeans on his 720-acre farm in northern Iowa. Then five years ago, as he readied his son to take over the business so he could retire, catastrophe struck: Local corn prices plummeted. “It was about the worst thing that ever happened to Read More...
Most energy experts say 100 percent renewables is feasible, realistic
Most energy experts surveyed for a study on the future of the world’s energy supply consider a global transition to 100 per cent renewable energy to be both feasible and realistic. “There is an overwhelming consensus among the experts we interviewed that Read More...