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.
Food wastes as source of renewable energy
In California, one county is converting food waste into useful energy. When food scraps break down in a traditional landfill, they release methane, a potent heat-trapping gas. So Sacramento County now requires food manufacturers, cafeterias, and other large producers to separate food waste from the Read More...
Unless investors see light on solar, women will still give birth in the dark
High in the Usambara Mountains of northern Tanzania, a woman prepares to give birth in the pitch black. Her family clusters around her. With no electricity at the birthing clinic, someone shines a mobile phone above the midwife’s head. The baby is the last to be born in near darkness at the Read More...
A smart grid to bring India’s rural masses online
Roughly 200 million people in India live off the grid. One Indian entrepreneur sees a massive opportunity to bring them online. India's green energy sector has a tendency to "sell and run"—high-end equipment is installed, but a lack of maintenance support for remote villages means systems often Read More...
Charge while you drive: Solar-powered cars
Forget about the hassle of charging your electric car: China’s leading clean energy provider, Hanergy, has launched an innovative series of solar-powered concept cars that are continually being charged while they drive.The four concept cars utilize thin-film solar batteries, which are capable Read More...
Is it an e-bike, is it an e-car? No, it’s a bio-hybrid
I’m sitting in a cross between an electric-assisted bicycle and an electric car that looks like a cool golf buggy. The model I am in is also the only one in the world and cost a lot of money to build. So no pressure as I take this concept vehicle for my first spin. The Schaeffler Bio-Hybrid Read More...
How self-driving cars can make cities better
We’ve heard plenty from futurists, urbanists, techies, and environmentalists about the promise and perils of self-driving vehicles. But what about the folks in the trenches, the ones who will have to accommodate and manage those vehicles? What do people who plan and run urban transportation Read More...
California solar generation grew 1,378% in 5 years
The total electricity generated from solar in the US state of California between 2009 and 2014 increased an astonishing 1,378%. This is one of the key findings from the 8th edition of Next 10’s California Green Innovation Index, released in late June. In addition to the mind-blowing solar Read More...
UK solar energy breaks new record
The UK solar industry broke a new record in June, generating 23.9% of UK electricity demand, according to the UK Solar Trade Association. The UK solar industry had plenty of reasons to celebrate its third “Solar Independence Day” on Monday, with the UK’s solar trade body, the Read More...
Clean, renewable batteries: Microbes that poop electricity
Many devices depend on batteries that are unsustainable because they require rare earth metals like lithium. Now, scientists have discovered a clean, renewable alternative: a microbial-fuel cell that does not require an external power source to create an electric current. The microbial cells Read More...
How your electric car could store power and transfer it to your home
As Tesla's possible purchase of SolarCity shows, carmakers want to get into the energy storage business. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan are all working on home batteries that integrate electric vehicles into residential power systems. The vision is for homeowners to charge up batteries from solar Read More...