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.
Scientists advocate for more research on consciousness
Consciousness has been a domain that science so far hasn’t really dared to enter. It’s part of the realm of religion and philosophy. We know we are conscious. But how does that work? And what does it mean? More and more research in physics points to interconnection between the smallest Read More...
‘Energy Duck’ could provide solar and hydro power to Copenhagen
Contestants in the 2014 Land Art Generator Initiative in Copenhagen, Denmark have submitted a mock up of a giant duck that could power the European city with hydro and solar power. The giant duck would be fitted with solar panels to provide power during the daytime, and hydroelectric turbines on Read More...
App finds the most scenic route through a city
Most of us use apps to find our ways through cities. And when we do we look for the shortest route. But what if it were possible to find the most beautiful route through a city? That’s the objective of a new mobile application built by Yahoo Labs in Barcelona, Spain. The app works like any other Read More...
Clay fridges can slash global food waste substantially
Annual global food waste weighs in at over 1 billion tons. In developing countries food is often thrown away because of inadequate refrigeration. The Mitticool fridge is made from clay and might be the answer to the food storage problem. The Mitticool doesn’t require electricity, can keep Read More...
Solar energy for the entire world requires only small plot of land
How many solar panels are needed to power the whole world? A new graphic shows the exact plot of land that needs to be covered with solar panels to provide electricity to the entire world. And the surprising part– it’s not that large, just 158 square Read More...
Get used to this: Sustainable energy keeps setting new records
From Germany to the golden coasts of California, renewable energy records are being broken left and right. Global wind energy production has doubled 6 times in the past 9 years and solar power is up more than 50% in less than a decade. Fossil fuels still rule, but their future is rapidly changing. Read More...
Water based batteries can make electric cars even cleaner
Electric cars are great for reducing air pollution and global warming, but the materials used to make the car’s batteries come from chemicals that are damaging to the environment. That’s why this invention by a team of scientists from the University of Southern California is so important: a car Read More...
Scientists find a natural way to produce hydrogen
The clean renewable economy needs hydrogen to store energy. Electricity generated from photovoltaic panels during the day, for example, needs to be stored so that it can be used during the evening and night when the sun doesn’t shine and the panels don’t produce energy. So far the best way to Read More...
Renewable power output has almost doubled in last decade
Global renewable power production has grown from providing 800 gigawatts in energy in 2004, to 1,560 gigawatts in 2014, according to a new Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century report. Good news, but there’s still a way to go. The output of renewable energy stands at about 10% of Read More...
Economics for a blue planet
Gunter Pauli, author of The Blue Economy, on why blue is the new green. By Jurriaan Kamp and Marco Visscher Armed with an MBA from the French business school INSEAD, Gunter Pauli was in his mid-30s when he took the reins at Ecover, the Belgian cleaning products manufacturer that ran into Read More...