How Roman priests walked through the “Gates to Hell” — and came back
Modern science explains how an ancient ritual worked.
New objective blood test could diagnose autism in children
The test could be a game changer for identifying autism.
Geologists listen to volcanic murmur to predict eruptions
Listen closely, and the volcano will share its secrets.
Poor fitness leads to poor brain health, new study finds
Mens sana in corpore sanome
For the first time, scientists directly observe how Northern Lights are formed
Shedding light on the Northern Lights.
Borneo has lost nearly 150,000 orangutans since 1999
They're resilient and they can make a recovery, if we just cut down on the palm oil.
NASA is taking a Martian meteorite back home — for calibration purposes
The meteorite will be used in NASA's ambitious Mars 2020 mission.
Strong link found between ultra-processed foods and cancer
Bottom line: cut down on the processed foods.
There are vast quantities of mercury in the permafrost. With global warming, it’s now seeping away
Another problem caused by climate change.
A greener Mardi Gras: scientists develop degradable beads from microalgae
If it makes for a greener Mardi Gras, I'm all for it.
Scientists find promising new antibiotic — in the soil
Digging gold from dirt.
Medical ants rescue and care for injured comrades
The behavior surprised biologists, showing just how complex ants really are.
![The image caption reads: "In the center of the picture, a small bright dot is visible – a single positively-charged strontium atom. It is held nearly motionless by electric fields emanating from the metal electrodes surrounding it. […] When illuminated by a laser of the right blue-violet color, the atom absorbs and re-emits light particles sufficiently quickly for an ordinary camera to capture it in a long exposure photograph.
This picture was taken through a window of the ultra-high vacuum chamber that houses the trap. Laser-cooled atomic ions provide a pristine platform for exploring and harnessing the unique properties of quantum physics. They are used to construct extremely accurate clocks or, as in this research, as building blocks for future quantum computers, which could tackle problems that stymie even today’s largest supercomputers."](https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cropatom-800x603.webp)
Scientists win photo contest with image of a single, trapped atom
A single atom, trapped in time and space.
Sea level rise is accelerating, could lead to twice as much sea level rise by 2100 than previously expected
Sea levels aren't only rising, they're doing so at an accelerating rate.
Book Review: ‘Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe’
An excellent read for people of all ages and all backgrounds, and a bible for anyone looking to become an...
Meat substitutes in Europe have grown by 451% in the past four years
Eating more legumes and less meat is one of the healthier, more environmentally-friendly things you can do.
Schizophrenia patients can calm down their brain by playing a computer game
Participants were able to better control their hallucinations after playing a computer game.
National Parks might soon become smarter and more eco-friendly
I, for one, welcome the idea of Smart Parks.
London is losing its pubs, but is this really a problem?
It's not easy to pinpoint the reasons why this is happening.
Meteorite and volcanoes may have worked together to wipe out dinosaurs
It was a devastating one-two punch.
NASA’s New Horizons probe snaps farthest image from Earth
There's a man-made shuttle at the edge of the solar system, taking photos. It's mind bending.
People who don’t understand evolution are much more likely to reject it
Well here's a shocker.
Study reveals how ants produce antibiotics
You can't spell antibiotic without ant.
Low levels of alcohol are good for the brain
This isn't meant to advocate drinking, but...
New research shows that the TRAPPIST-1 planets are even more Earth-like than we thought
We know these planets better than any others outside our solar system.
The art of science writing — and why jargon and stuffiness isn’t helping anyone
No one wins when science is hard to read.
Loud noises are bad for your heart — and your cells
More and more evidence suggests that chronic noise causes cardiovascular diseases.
Among fruits and vegetables, bananas are the biggest waste culprits
We, as consumers, are also at blame.
A new Iron Curtain is falling over Europe — a “coal curtain”
A coal curtain is falling over the Old Continent.
Augmented Reality could soon help surgeons ‘see’ through the skin
From Pokemon Go to the operating room.
Study shows what happens in the brain when you bungee jump — and what this means for free will
A story of bungee jumping, electrical currents, and free will.
10 Perfect Valentine’s Gifts for the Chemist You’ve Got Chemistry With
Seriously awesome chemistry-themed gifts.
7 Adorable Plushies for a Science-themed Valentine’s Day
The most adorable gifts you can possibly give.
Will AI start to take over writing? How will we manage it?
An AI writer -- can this really be?
Almost all members of US National Park Service Board resign, citing apathy and indifference
Strike another loss for the good guys.
Archaeologists discover the 4,400-year-old tomb of a high ranking Egyptian priestess
It's a rare glimpse into the life of an Egyptian priestess.
For the first time, astronomers have discovered individual planets outside of our galaxy
They've found planets in another galaxy -- if that's not jaw-dropping, I don't know what is.
Book Review: ‘The Dialogues: Conversations about the Nature of the Universe’
Perhaps it's time we start having conversations about science once again -- and this book is a great place to...
Chile to start phase-out of coal
Chile is the latest country to announce a coal phase-out.
Study proves muscle memory happens on a genetic level
Sometimes, it's like the body is acting without you.
Capitalism has coopted the language of food – costing the world millions of meals
Things could be much better.
30% of the European Union’s electricity came from renewables in 2017
These are encouraging news, but everything is not rosy in Europe.
Researchers pinpoint the brain’s anxiety centers
Anxiety is useful, to an extent, but sometimes it can overflow, with devastating consequences.
New panorama shows just how amazing Curiosity’s journey has been on Mars
It's a breathtaking view!
New cancer vaccine successfully eliminates tumors in mice
This could be BIG.
Amazing fossil shows that Earth’s earliest birds evolved just like Darwin’s finches
These proto-birds may have evolved just like their modern relatives.
New report highlights how American CO2 emissions have evolved in the past 15 years
CO2 emissions dropped in 41 states and increased in 9 other states.
New study shows what the most nutritious plant-based milk is
All the plant-based options had fewer calories than cow milk.
Japanese Space Agency offers volunteers $3,500 to spend 14 days in a simulated space station
Explore what it's like to be in space, while also getting paid? What's not to like?!