Today’s Solutions: March 29, 2024

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.

California uses more solar tha

California uses more solar than all other states combined

California now sources close to 30% of its power from renewables. Last year, solar alone jumped for 1.9% to 5% of the Golden State’s total generation. With just 23 megawatts short of cracking the 10 gigawatts barrier, California has more installed solar capacity than all other states Read More...

Sweden imports garbage for pow

Sweden imports garbage for power, helps Europe dispose of its waste

The world-leading nation in garbage-fueled energy is now importing garbage to feed the network of district-power plants that provide electricity for more than half of Swedish households. Sweden has reduced its landfill-bound garbage to less than 1% of the waste it produces, after burning 52% of it Read More...

Fighting fire with sound in a

Fighting fire with sound in a thirsty world

Two students of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, have developed a handheld fire extinguisher that uses low-frequency sound waves. The technology is based on the ability of sound waves to displace oxygen through physical space. Starve flames of their favorite fuel and you can Read More...

The Internet of Things soon to

The Internet of Things soon to create your local power grid from decentralized solar and wind

Imagine linking up solar panels, wind turbines and energy storage units of a local area so that they communicate and work together as a standalone microgrid. They can also communicate with the main centralized grid so as to harmonize with it. Imagine now a multitude of these microgrids, and you get Read More...

Solid state electrolyte batter

Solid state electrolyte batteries, a leap in the quest for long-lasting battery life

It has been a long quest, but the new battery technology that can outperform by 100% the typical ion lithium batteries in your laptop, tablet and smartphone, is here. Solid state electrolyte batteries have been developed by several labs including Sakti3, a start-up which recently received a Read More...

Beijing moves beyond coal to f

Beijing moves beyond coal to fight pollution

The fourth and last remaining major coal power plant fueling the Chinese capital's electric grid will be closed in 2016 and be replaced by a natural gas facility. The first one was closed last year, followed by two more last week. Analysts expect the move will mean cutting annual carbon emissions Read More...

Communicating with loved ones

Communicating with loved ones is the Internet #1 killer-app

For 86% of internet users in 32 developing and emerging countries, contacting friends and family is the main reason to go online, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center. Over half of the thousands of people polled for the survey mentioned seeking information and news as another important Read More...

Pure water available instantly

Pure water available instantly, anywhere

Imagine pulling out your water bottle and filling it up at whatever stream, pond or faucet you happen to find, then drinking it straight up without worrying one bit about your health. The miracle of instant safe water is now brought to you by Naked Filter, a technology that combines carbon elements Read More...

Costa Rica powers its grid thr

Costa Rica powers its grid through water and volcanoes (a little wind and sun too)

Costa Rica's power grid has been running on 100% renewable energy for the past 76 days, and counting. It is able to rely primarily on its hydropower plants, with a boost from geothermal, solar and wind energy sources. Anxious to reduce its energy dependence on water and its growing vulnerability to Read More...

How will Europe’s solar powe

How will Europe’s solar powerhouse Germany cope with the eclipse?

Today a solar eclipse will sweep across Europe. Millions of people will stare at the unusual sky and the strange darkness it brings. But there’s one problem: solar power. Never before has an eclipse happened at the current level of solar power generating capacity, especially in Germany. Its 1.4 Read More...