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 announces $3 billion electric vehicle battery production
We at The Optimist Daily are enormous electric vehicle fans, and we’re not the only ones. Demand for electric vehicles has risen so sharply around the world that manufacturers and supply chains are struggling to keep up. To help things along, state and federal governments are stepping up to Read More...
Pitch is important in the mating songs of male wood frogs
Most species in the world perform some kind of courtship ritual to ensure they are choosing a partner with strong genes of the same species. For many birds that means hopping around and dancing, or for Drosophila flies this equates to intricate scissoring wing patterns. Wood frog courtship Wood Read More...
To breakfast or not to breakfast? Scientists weigh in
Some people stand by the statement that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, while others skip it altogether. According to findings of a 2019 research review that looked at 13 breakfast studies, eating breakfast in the morning wasn’t a reliable way to lose weight, and skipping Read More...
This “extreme” plant could be the beginning of climate-resistant crops
We tend to think of crops as delicate and temperamental, that they require a lot of care and particular conditions to grow in. While this is certainly true for, say, avocados, which require incredible amounts of water naturally found in tropical rainforests, some crops evolved to live and thrive in Read More...
Dutch startup purifies air in urban areas by wrapping buildings in moss
Now that we are aware of the great environmental and health benefits of integrating green spaces in our cities, many urban areas are beginning to design new buildings with foliage in mind. What should we do, though, about the concrete buildings that already exist? Dutch startup Respyre has a Read More...
Last month, wind and solar made up 18 percent of US energy
With the War in Ukraine and unfair demands from Russia for its gas, many western nations are feeling the need to switch to renewable energy now more so than ever. The good news is that nations are getting closer to 100 percent renewables and energy independence every day. Wind and solar have Read More...
Actor LeVar Burton will receive lifetime achievement award at new Children’s Emmys
It isn’t often enough that we publicly appreciate our teachers and educators. While he is mainly an actor, having performed in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Roots, LeVar Burton played the role of a reader and an educator for many years on Reading Rainbow. Now, he will receive a Lifetime Read More...
This ancient enzyme can boost photosynthesis and crop yield
Photosynthesis - turning carbon dioxide, water, and light into oxygen and sugars - is the natural process by which plants sustain themselves. It's what has allowed life to flourish on this earth by transforming the atmosphere into an oxygen-rich environment. Besides pumping out oxygen, these Read More...
An asteroid deflection system is planned to launch in 2025
In 2021, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was sent on a 10-month course across the solar system to slam into the small asteroid Dimorphos. The hope is for DART to change the course of the rock, testing out potential planetary defense mechanisms. The China National Space Read More...
These smart glasses display speech captions to deaf wearers
We often take for granted our ability to communicate with others in a common language, but more than 70 million people worldwide often struggle to enjoy basic interactions because of significant barriers to relying on sign language to communicate with others. Enter Voicee, a microphone-fitted set Read More...