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 create the first-ever comprehensive map of an insect brain
According to a new study published in the journal Science, scientists have generated the first complete map of an insect's brain and, critically, all of the synaptic wire that ties it together. The resulting map is known as a connectome, and it is a fundamental piece of neuroscience. "Now we Read More...
The incredible future of clean energy: electricity made out of thin air
While most humans don’t have the means or tools to bear witness to them, many of the world's smallest species have extraordinary survival mechanisms. Certain soil bacteria, for example, can consume hydrogen from the air and utilize it as fuel if they are starved of all other Read More...
Suffer from chronic lower back pain? New single shot treatment could be for you
Degenerative disk disease affects around 40 percent of the population over the age of 40, and those who live with the agony of the chronic ailment understand how persistent and difficult it is to treat. However, positive results from a three-year trial point to a new, long-term approach to treating Read More...
23-year-old strives to make surfing sustainable with mushroom surf boards
Surfing is a sport that is all about getting close to and appreciating nature. Unfortunately, conventional surfboards tend to contribute to environmental degradation. Steve Davies, a 23-year-old board designer from Porthcawl, Wales, is working on a surfboard built of mycelia, the root-like Read More...
EU bans new gas or diesel vehicle production by the year 2035
The European Parliament adopted a ban on the sale of new fossil-fueled cars and light vehicles by 2035 earlier this month. Following in the footsteps of California and New York, among other U.S. states, the European Union will now be one of the major car markets to compel a move to electric Read More...
Could this invisible label revolutionize textile recycling?
It's no secret that garments are thrown out at an alarming rate due to fast fashion and the rapid-fire cycling of trends. Furthermore, we are doing a poor job of recycling textile waste. In the United States, less than 15 percent of the 92 million tons of clothes and other textiles are recycled Read More...
Backpack-wearing rats are being trained to find earthquake survivors
After the terrible earthquake in Turkey and Syria last week—with thousands and thousands of casualties—rescuers have been scrambling to discover survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings. Search and rescue dogs are assisting at some locations. However, future disasters may receive Read More...
Scientists find two new potential therapeutic options for ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurological illness with a poor prognosis, but two new trials suggest a brighter future. A team of scientists led by the University of Southern California (USC) discovered a gene and a protein in human cells and live mice that appear to be good Read More...
Australia is the first nation to acknowledge psychedelics as medicine
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration surprised researchers by approving the psychedelic chemicals found in magic mushrooms and MDMA for use by patients with specific mental health issues, making Australia the first country to recognize psychedelics as medicines. MDMA and psilocybin MDMA Read More...
“Biological clothing”— the future of 3D lab-grown skin grafting
The science of bioengineered skin grafting is making remarkable progress thanks to a team at Columbia University, led by Asst. Prof. Hasan Erbil Abaci. Currently, bioengineered skin is only available in flat sheets, which work well for grafting onto generally smooth, featureless body regions, but Read More...