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.
US can make fast shift to clean energy and save billions, new study says
A new study shows that the United States could shutter coal-fired power plants by 2030, maintain a steady power supply—and save billions of dollars. The country has more than enough clean renewable energy capacity to replace the coal-fired power stations. The challenge: How to move electricity Read More...
Vietnam to phase out coal, invest in gas and renewables
Vietnam’s prime minister says the country will stop building coal power plants and look to gas and renewables to power its electricity grid. In a statement on the government website, Nguyen Tan Dung said new energy plans should protect the environment and strictly follow “international Read More...
Newly developed material will help fuel cells produce cleaner, more efficient energy
Hydrogen is seen by many as the fuel of the future. Its one drawback is that the high-temperature fuel cells that convert the hydrogen into electricity can be quite energy-intensive. That is all changing now as scientists from the University of Cambridge have had a breakthrough that will help fuel Read More...
In 20 years, could 100 cities be powered by clean energy?
In 2013, Greensburg, KS — a town of less than 800 residents about 100 miles from Wichita — became the first city in the United States to go 100 percent renewable, powering their homes, businesses, and municipal buildings via wind power. In 2014, Burlington, VT joined Greensburg, Read More...
Honda to launch hydrogen fuel-cell car in California this year
Honda Motor Co Ltd said on Thursday its hydrogen fuel cell car, dubbed Clarity Fuel Cell, will be launched in California before the end of 2016. The new 5-passenger sedan is expected to be priced at around $60,000 with a monthly lease of under $500, Honda said in a statement released at the D.C. Read More...
Driverless cars will revolutionize urban planning, giving back space to community
There are about a billion parking spots in the United States and some 250 million passenger cars. You see the problem. Most cars are parked 95 percent of the time. That requires a lot of space—ugly space. Total parking space in the US requires a land size bigger than the state of Connecticut. The Read More...
Your 21st-century car will be zero-emissions and smart
Silicon Valley and Detroit are now in a race to reinvent the automobile — delivering zero tailpipe emissions, autonomous driving, and seamless voice-connectivity between the car, all your digital devices, your home and place of work. Think iPhone compared to landline in visualizing the scale Read More...
Significant decline in coal-burning in China signals major turnaround
Coal-burning in China is in significant decline, according to official figures released on Tuesday. The new data is good news for the fight against climate change and shows a major turnaround for one of the world’s biggest polluters as it continues its transition to clean energy; earlier this Read More...
Self-driving cars will save on fuel and cut down substantially on greenhouse gas emissions
While there's more testing than real life to self-driving cars, it seems they will be part of the future. Automakers like Audi, BMW, Ford and Toyota continue developing their versions of the technology and Google sends driverless cars around the streets of California. Meanwhile, president Obama Read More...
In India, solar power tariff at record low
The solar power tariff fell to an all-time low, with Finland-based energy firm Fortum Finnsurya Energy quoting Rs 4.34 a unit to bag the mandate to set up a 70-mw solar plant under NTPC's Bhadla Solar Park tender. "This is the lowest solar tariff so far in India. This has happened because of Read More...