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.
Two years until self-driving cars are on the road
Depending on whom you ask, your car will be driving you in less than two years – or more than 15. The Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, who is never shy about beating his chest, on Wednesday declared it to be just two years away . In doing so, he made one of the most confident predictions to date about Read More...
Philips Lighting plans to sell two billion LED lightbulbs by 2020
Philips Lighting, the world's biggest manufacturer of LED lights, has offered a boost to the energy efficiency industry with a new pledge to sell two billion LED lightbulbs by 2020. The promise, delivered today to energy ministers gathered in San Francisco for the Clean Energy Ministerial summit, Read More...
Chile has so much solar energy, it's giving it away for free
Chile’s solar industry has expanded so quickly that it’s giving electricity away for free. Spot prices reached zero in parts of the country on 113 days through April, a number that’s on track to beat last year’s total of 192 days, according to Chile’s central grid Read More...
New report shows renewable energy records in 2015
Worldwide investment and implementation of clean energy hit records last year, according to new statistics. Some 147 Gigawatts of renewable electricity came online in 2015—the largest annual increase ever and as much as Africa’s entire power generating capacity. Clean energy investment Read More...
Algae can fuel planes, feed people and fight climate change
Algae will be a big part of any sustainable future. It absorbs carbon dioxide, like plants. It can survive in saltwater and wastewater, saving freshwater resources for human needs. It can be cultivated in shallow pools built and maintained in regions spare of farmable land. It grows quickly, needs Read More...
Google’s self-driving cars will be able to take over from human drivers at the push of a button
For anyone driving long distances, cruise control is fantastic. Pressing a button, letting go of the accelerator, and focusing on the road ahead makes long drives a little more bearable. According to a new patent published today, Google wants to make self-driving cars just as simple to use. The Read More...
Investment in energy storage vital for renewable energy success
A new report has concluded that investment in energy storage technology is vital for the success of renewable energy and its full integration into the energy sector. According to a new study published by researchers from the University of East Anglia (UAE), government subsidies should be used so as Read More...
New solar cell breaks efficiency ceiling, theory goes out window
If you thought the upper limit of solar cell efficiency was 32 percent in April, think again in May. Last week, MIT News reported on a research team that demonstrated how a silicon solar cell could top the theoretical limit of 32 percent. See you later, Shockley-Queisser Limit, and don’t let Read More...
China Is Going Solar In A Big Way
China is investing in solar in a big way, which is great news for the rest of us. China is a nation of 1.36 billion souls, so even though it has only just passed Germany (population 81.6 million) in terms of installed solar capacity, it’s easily on track to leave it in the dust. According to Read More...
Baking bread and roasting peanuts with solar energy in Africa
Solar energy is the backbone of the clean energy future, and it mostly comes through solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays, which produce electricity for homes and businesses. However, in the developing world solar PV is more often still an expensive solution. Solar energy can also directly produce heat Read More...