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.
Global investment in energy falls but renewables remain strong
Global investment in energy fell by 8% last year to $1.8tn (£1.4), reflecting low oil and gas prices and cost falls in the sector, new data shows. Nearly half of the decline was accounted for by the US, where plunging oil prices and a recent boom in shale gas, along with cost deflation in the Read More...
This fabric produces energy from light and movement
Researchers have developed a fabric that can harvest energy from the sun and movement at the same time. The fabric could be used to create power-generating clothing, creating a new meaning for the word wearable. So far the technology can only generate a couple volts a minute, but researchers Read More...
Long-awaited plan divvies up California desert for renewable energy
Swaths of public land in the California desert will be opened to solar and wind farms under a federal plan released Wednesday that preserves much of the landscape for conservation and recreation. The long-awaited blueprint finalized by the U.S. Interior Department after a years-long process seeks Read More...
Our reporter goes for a spin in a self-driving Uber car
To catch up, Uber spent $680 million — roughly 1 percent of the company’s value — to buy Otto and its team of robotics veterans. Based in San Francisco, Uber has also poured millions of dollars into hiring hundreds of employees and spent more than 18 months getting the Advanced Read More...
India is calling on godmen to promote solar energy
India is in need of more energy to feed its economy, so to fill the void, the Narendra Modi government is asking spiritual leaders to install solar power unities in their ashrams, or hermitages, and to promote solar energy among millions of their followers. India hopes to create 40,000MW of rooftop Read More...
Artificial photosynthesis facility converts solar energy into hydrogen
We have the technology to power the world with renewables, but we’re not quite there when it comes to storing all that energy. And like the energy sources themselves, these storage technologies should be environmentally friendly and affordable. The solution: an artificial photosynthesis facility Read More...
This electric car can go over 200 miles on a single charge, for under $40,000
Experts have long said that once the electric car is affordable for the masses, then it’s game over for gas-powered cars. We’re getting awfully close to that becoming a reality as General Motors gets set to launch the Chevrolet Bolt EV, a subcompact car with an average range of 238 miles on a Read More...
BMW and Volkswagen are making that electric car road trip a lot less stressful
German automakers BMW and Volkswagen have partnered with California startup ChargePoint to install nearly 100 public electric vehicle fast-charging stations along two of the busiest stretches of highway in the United States. The collaboration, dubbed the Express Charging Corridors Initiative, is Read More...
Electric cars could be charged at Shell service stations from 2017
Electric car charging points could appear alongside petrol pumps at Shell’s UK service stations as soon as next year, the oil giant confirmed after emails between the company and government officials revealed discussions on introducing them. The company also asked the government how serious Read More...
California strengthens greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets
California is on the front lines of climate change with trees dying and wildfires raging on drought-parched land. Perhaps recognizing the urgency of acting on the growing menace from global warming, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday signed sweeping climate change legislation that sets a more ambitious Read More...