Natural Sciences on ZME Science

The Math Behind Why Mexico’s Cartel War is a Never-Ending Nightmare

Cartels are Mexico's fifth largest employer. They are recruiting faster than the government can arrest them.

The incredible fishes that wander oceans with a transparent head

They're some of the most unusual creatures in the ocean.

10 "Living Fossils" That Have Survived Mass Extinctions And Have Barely Changed in Millions of Years

Most creatures on Earth evolve constantly but these have hardly changed after millions of years.

Meet the "Ice Man" saving Himalayan farms with artificial glaciers

An engineer’s clever artificial glaciers bring water back to parched Himalayan fields.

Do animals recognize themselves in the mirror? And what does that mean for us?

For an item that most of us use every day without much thought, mirrors can be a rich source of insight into the inner workings of our minds. Self-awareness is something we consider to be a hallmark of the human experience. It represents the ability of an individual to recognize where they begin and where […]

What makes gemstones so brilliantly colored -- spoiler alert, it's physics

In a previous color, we’ve talked about what makes things colored — the way objects absorb, reflect, or transmit light at different wavelengths. But let’s be a bit more specific. What gives gemstones colors, or rather, what changes the way they absorb and reflect light so that they come out in so many different, striking […]

What is a waterspout and did one sink the Bayesian luxury yacht?

Are waterspouts some of Europe's most underestimated disasters?

Titanium: how we use the metal of the titans

Beyond its remarkable properties, titanium minerals also look spectacularly.

Breathtaking Metamorphosis: The Saturniidae Moths

These moths are some of the most amazing creatures you'll see.

Geological faults: the beauty (and science) of a key geological process

This picture encapsulates the beauty of a geologic fault -- it's like someone took it from a textbook and slammed it into real life.

11 Extraordinary Sharks That Live in Deep Sea Waters

Forget open water sharks. Some of the most interesting sharks on Earth live near the ocean's floor.

The Story of Hugh Everett III: The Father of the "Multiverse' and Parallel Worlds

Meet the brilliant mathematician who gave us the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Remembering Félicette: The first cat in space

Celebrating the memory of the world's first and only astrocat.

6 Adorable Sharks That Are Actually More Cute Than Scary

These are some sharks that won't force you to get a bigger boat.

What are thundereggs? The rare, chalcedony-filled rocks

It's one of the most spectacular types of rock out there.

13 Incredible Armored Dinosaurs That Were Built For Battle

These dinosaurs were built like a tank.

Carbon fixation explained: the hidden hero of photosynthesis

A brief explainer of how plants deal with CO2.

Are turtles dinosaurs? Their evolution took its own distinct path

They're more like cousins than siblings.

Utahraptor: the dinosaur with a killer claw

These were the actual Jurassic Park raptors.

Edmontosaurus: The Fascinating Life of a Late Cretaceous Giant

Exploring a less-known Cretaceous grazer.

11 Incredible Periodical Cicadas Facts You Can't Miss

Explore these fun facts about cicadas, from their unique life cycles to their critical role in ecosystems.

The 16 Fastest Dinosaurs: The Speed Demons of the Mesozoic

Life on the fast lane a couple hundred million years ago.

Why do cicadas make so much noise?

Cicadas are nature's loudspeakers. Here's why and how they make such a racket.

Gallimimus: the chicken-mimicking dinosaur

RUN, GALLIMIMUS, RUN!

Meet the 16 Strangest Dinosaurs You've Never Heard Of

All dinosaurs were strange. These are some of the strangest. The ones we found, at least...

10 Mind-Blowing Triceratops Facts

Three horned facts for the Three Horned Face.

Archaeopteryx: the winged link between dinosaurs and birds

- It's a bird! - It's a plane! - No... it's Archaeopteryx!

Slate: characteristics, properties, uses

You've seen it on rooftops everywhere, but where does slate come from?

What do animals dream about?

Turns out, animals dream a lot like us: about everyday life.

Kentrosaurus: "Sharp Lizard"

Stegosaurus' cool smaller cousin with a tail-long thagomizer and a side spike.

Ichthyosaurus: "Fish Lizard"

These dolphin-like marine reptiles appeared millions of years before dinosaurs.

Styracosaurus: "Spiked Lizard"

Tricerotops often takes the spotlight. But its less famous cousin was no pushover.

Geodes: Nature's Hidden Treasures

Have you ever seen a geode?

Nonsilicate minerals -- the underdogs of geology

Silicate minerals dominate the Earth's crust -- but nonsilicate minerals play a key role as well.

Amorphous "minerals" -- what happens when geology goes out of order

They are the chaotic "bad boys" of geology, and their formation is as interesting as it gets.

Deinocheirus: "Terrible Hand"

Deinocheirus's massive arms puzzled scientists for decades until recent discoveries revealed it as one of the most bizarre and gigantic dinosaurs ever found.

Mosasaurus: "Meuse Lizard"

The Mosasaurus was a giant marine reptile, which dominated ancient oceans with its fearsome jaws and massive body.

The power of 'healing' crystals: what they can and can't do

Crystals are lifeless masses that don't have any 'energetic' properties. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't own some if you like them.

The properties of minerals: From hardness to luster

Each mineral has its own unique set of properties.

Therizinosaurus: "Scythe Lizard"

A herbivorous raptor-like dinosaur with humongous claws? I'm hooked!

Tarbosaurus: "Alarming Lizard"

Tyrannosaurus' smaller cousin with an equally menacing name and actually overall equally menacing.

The 2024 California Superbloom: Here's everything you need to know

In California, the 2024 Superbloom is shaping up to be a breathtaking display of wildflowers.

Oviraptor: "Egg Thief"

Although its name means 'egg snatcher', this dinosaur was actually a caring parent.

Quetzalcoatlus: the largest flying animal ever discovered

This aircraft-sized pterosaur would have been a formidable match even for an adult T.Rex.

Silicate minerals: the building blocks of the Earth

Silicates are by far the most common type of mineral on Earth.

The seven types of crystals -- the stunning geometry that comes from an atomic lattice

Some people say crystals have healing powers, but that's not the type of crystals we're looking at here.

The most valuable minerals -- and why they matter so much

What's your favorite precious mineral?

How do minerals form? Everything you need to know

Minerals are the building blocks of rocks and the storytellers of Earth's history. They're the Legos of our planet.

Carcharodontosaurus: "Shark-toothed Lizard"

The underdog contender for the 'Largest Theropod' throne. Folks, I give you Carcharodontosaurus.

The turnspit dog: The extinct breed that once powered every kitchen in the UK before modern appliances

These kitchen dogs were no ordinary pets, but served a special purpose. They ran a wheel that helped their owners cook meat.

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