Features on ZME Science

Meet Chuño, a space worthy food that the Incas made eight centuries ago

It's got an impressive shelf-life for something you prepare by leaving outside for a few nights then stomping on it.

The Types of Fossils and Other Rock-solid Fossil Facts

Bones to stones.

Getting blackout drunk: how alcohol can leave you with no memory of the night before

Blacking out from alcohol is a bit more complicated than you might think.

Why some people are claustrophobic

A fraction of the world's population will always take the stairs.

Music for the nose: an olfactory organ

A"smell organ" shoots scents instead of musical notes to dazzle an audience.

The most expensive things you can eat or drink

Gastronomy is becoming more of a science and less of an art with each passing day, but there are some foods which are just downright unreasonably expensive.

17 Amazing Chemistry Facts that will Blow Your Mind

Oh yeah, chemistry!

How caves form and the different types of caves

Shaped by erosion, fire, or water, caves have some surprising but always beautiful births.

Why online scammers say they're Nigerian princes

The Nigerian prince is in trouble!

The medieval elephant was partly horse, partly dog, totally hilarious

There were some pretty epic works of art made throughout the Middle Ages and especially the Renaissance. But these elephants are not among them.

Hero Rats detect landmines and TB for a living

Detecting landmines can be difficult, dangerous and expensive, but an unsung hero is set to change all this.

Worst pain known to man is caused by the world's largest ant

The bullet packs the most painful punch in the animal kingdom.

14 Mind Blowing International Borders From Around the World

Borders often highlight the relationship and differences between different countries, and here are some of the most spectacular and revealing ones.

The Inglorious Legacy of the 'Iron Curtain' in 20 Maps

Having their troops and secret agents infiltrated through half of Europe all the way to Germany, the Soviet Union as a matter of convenience decided to keep control of all of these regions it had "liberated" during the war. The spoils of war go the victor, and the Soviet Union took this very, very seriously.

Why goats have really weird rectangular pupils

Goat eyes can be pretty freak. But there's a very good reason why they have this distinct square shape.

Why rats can't vomit, and how they make up for it

Rats can't vomit and it's pretty surprising.

Archimedes' legacy: inventions and discoveries

Archimedes was the greatest mathematician of his age.

Who invented the induction motor

The induction motor is one of the most important inventions in modern history.

How to slow down light until it stops

In vacuum, light always travels at a constant speed of 299,792,458 metres per second. Nothing can travel faster than this constant c, as denoted by physicists. These two postulates are basic building blocks of modern physics and were first announced more than a hundred years ago by Albert Einstein. Yet, there are ingenious ways to slow light to the point of trapping it in a dead stop. Prepare for some weirdness.

How Quicksand Works and How to Escape its clutches

Discover the fascinating world of quicksand but also learn how to break free from it.

Platycrinus saffordi, the sea lily that isn't a flower

Crinoids are sometimes referred to as sea lillies because of their resemblance to a plant or flower. But this fossil looks more like something straight from hell.

24 Vintage (but extremely useful) Life Hacks from the Early 1900s

In the early 1900s, cigarettes were living their golden years - something which millions of lungs regretted. But you can't charge the smoking industry of not being creative. Back in the day, manufactures used to insert stiffening cards into their paper cigarette packs, to make them more sturdy and last more; not long after that, companies started printing all sorts of quotes, trivia, artwork, and... life hacks.

Louis Pasteur, Spontaneous Generation, and Germ Theory

“For I have kept from them, and am still keeping from them, that one thing which is above the power of man to make; I have kept from them the germs that float in the air, I have kept them from life.” - Louis Pasteur

George Adamson -- the man who lived with lions

If you like lions, or watching nature documentaries, the odds are you've heard of George Adamson. Nicknamed "Baba ya Simba" (Father of Lions), Adamson lived an amazing life. Best known for his award winning documentary Born Free, he managed to live among lions and make them treat him as equals, resulting in a relationship of mutual trust.

How to make vodka, with science!

Vodka is awesome because it, along with moonshine, is probably the simplest spirit to make.

The Smelliest Creatures in the Animal Kingdom

Take a look at the smelliest animals in the world. Continue at your own risk...

Theremin: the electronic instrument you play without touching anything

The theremin is a unique musical instrument which involves two antennas and which you can play with your bare hands, without touching anything. We'll talk about its history, the working principle and how you can play/build your own.

How many people are younger or older than me?

To check where you stand among the age demographics in the U.S., Nathan Yau of Flowing Data made this interactive chart that's incredibly easy to use.

Ancient recipes: Pullum Numidicum (Numidian Chicken)

Perhaps one of the most underappreciated aspects of archaeology is cooking. We know surprisingly little about how people used to cook in ancient times, although a few delicious recipes managed to slip through the cracks and remain recorded. Such is the case with Pullum Numidicum (Numidian Chicken), a simple, delicious and authentic Roman recipe. The dish […]

Facts about left-handed people according to science

Pay gap, fighting, and over-achieving -- welcome to the world of lefties!

Artist uses plants as stencils for beautiful, delicate tattoos

It’s the perfect tattoo for people who forget to water their plants: Ukrainian illustrator and tattoo artist Rita Zolotukhina creates “botanical fingerprints”, using actual plants for designs. To create the tattoos, she dips the plants in ink, then presses them on the customer’s body, basing the tattoo on this imprint – much like a stencil. “We don’t […]

How to read the nutritional facts label

Nutritional labels can be daunting to read if you have no idea what to look for. Most of us don’t have the time and energy to work out what these mean, so we buy on impulse. Naturally, you’d think something as important as a product’s nutritional facts was presented in a more straightforward manner. But […]

Why we get goosebumps

Goosebumps are strange. We get goosebumps when we’re cold, when we’re afraid, and sometimes when we’re really excited – three very different situations. But no matter why we get them, goosebumps are tightly connected to a single hormone: adrenaline. The anatomy of a goosebump [panel style=”panel-success” title=”Goosebumps form:” footer=””]- when you’re cold – when you’re […]

Why you should microwave your sponges, according to science

The best way to keep your sponges clean is to microwave them.

9 Mathematical facts that will blow your mind [and a delicious bonus]

Many people believe math is boring, but in reality - it's anything but.

How much renewable energy does the world use?

Renewable energy is growing furiously fast.

Sea squirts: These cute "big-mouthed" underwater creatures digest their own organs

It's hard to believe that something so cute can lie at the bottom of the sea, but don't let the appearances fool you.

Why it's illegal to own one guinea pig in Switzerland

At first, it sounds like one of the silliest laws ever: in Switzerland, you’re not allowed to own just one guinea pig or parrot. The reason for this is that they’re social species, and they are considered victims of abuse if they aren’t able to regularly interact with others of their species. If you’re an […]

This football stadium in Brazil is located exactly on the Equator

Each team is defending one hemisphere!

Why is Ernest Hemingway Important? The Most Interesting Man in the World

Ernest Hemingway is famous for being one of the most appreciated American fiction writers. However, his personal life is no less interesting.

The locks of a goddess and solidified glass lava: Pele's hair

Believe it or not, this is actually lava.

Celebrating Diversity: Stunning Villages Around Europe

If you don’t travel a lot it’s easy to forget just how big and diverse the world really is – and sure, everyone knows about Paris, London or New York, but villages were where humanity’s culture and spirit was preserved for centuries. Here are just a handful of villages and small towns which brilliantly exhibit the serenity […]

The difference between silicon and silicone

It’s one of the most common confusions in the English language. In short, silicon is the chemical element Si, while silicone is a synthetic polymer. Although it appears like the words are synonyms and can be used interchangeably, they’re not and they designate completely different things. Let’s detail a bit on what each of them are, […]

Scientists published the 50 most incorrectly used terms in science

There's no "gene for" anything, and there is no "gold standard" or "scientific method" - you're using all those terms wrong.

Why depression makes you tired

Depression can be exhausting. Here's why.

Hundreds of thousands of leaked emails reveal appalling corruption and bribery in the oil industry

An investigation undertaken by the Huffington Post and Fairfax Media has revealed that billions of dollars of government contracts were awarded as the direct result of bribes. The company names which pop up on this list include British icon Rolls-Royce, US oil-service company Halliburton, Australia’s Leighton Holdings and Korean heavyweights Samsung and Hyundai. The bribe factory If […]

A radioactive couple: the glowing legacy of the Curies

Together, these two brilliant people forever changed how we understand the world we live in. They did so at a huge cost, with incredible levels of radiation exposure, that would in the end claim Marie's life. But by tackling some of the deadliest forces known to man with their bare hands, they earned life unending in the scientific community.

Returning the world's last wild horses to the wild

Przewalski's horses are the only breed which was never domesticated. They were once common across Russia's and Mongolia's steppes, but were slowly hunted down. Now, coming back from the brink of extinction, these wild horses are slowly returning to their habitat.

Disappointed Babylonian trader writes oldest complaint letter 3,766 years ago

It tells the story of a disappointed Babylonian customer who was shipped low-quality copper ore. The letter, written in cuneiform on a clay tablet, is nuanced with very detailed accounts of the trade, but also threats of ceasing business relations. Not all that different from the complaint e-mails we send nowadays when we're serviced badly.

10 Beautiful Visual Mathematical Proofs: Elegance and Simplicity

"Beauty is the first test; there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics," G. H. Hardy (1877-1947)

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