Features on ZME Science

Europe landscape still scarred by World War I

The impact of the first World War is felt everywhere – on a social level, an economic level, and even on the landscape (and don’t even get me started on WWII). The Smithsonian recently published a collection of some pictures depicting this damage, which we will be sharing here. You can see the full exhibition in […]

How many people did Genghis Khan kill? So many that it was good for the environment

The genocide had major consequences for the entire planet.

Correlation vs causation: a brilliant example of why one is not like the other

Things are not always as they seem.

The creative and (often times) dirty things Romans wrote on walls

Writing on walls is one of the oldest things humans did – people drew on walls in the stone age, and they still do so now (well, some do, anyway). But I’d dare say that no one has taken the art of writing on walls to the same level as romans – sometimes poetic, sometimes […]

The Oh-My-God-Particle

The Oh-My-God particle was an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray (most likely a proton) detected on the evening of 15 October 1991 over Dugway Proving Ground, in Utah. The particle was 20 million times more energetic than the highest energy measured in radiation emitted by an extragalactic object – in other words, this subatomic particle had the energy of […]

Crazy ideas: The Phantom Time hypothesis

The phantom time hypothesis is a conspiracy theory developed in the 1980s and 1990s which claims that periods of history, specifically that of Europe during the Early Middle Ages (AD 614–911), are either wrongly dated, or did not occur at all – and there was a general conspiracy to cover that up. When Dr. Hans-Ulrich Niemitz introduces his […]

Cicada 3301: A puzzle for the brightest minds, posted by an unknown, mysterious organization

It’s perhaps the most enigmatic and intriguing thing on the internet, which promises an “epiphany” when you solve it. No one knows who sets it or what the prize is at the end, but Cicada 3301 has posted mysterious, extremely difficult puzzles for three years in a row, in an attempt to recruit and enlighten the […]

Photographing the oldest living things in the world

Rachel Sussman is a contemporary artist who focuses on photographing the oldest living things in the world. As part of her project “The Oldest Living Things in the World” (creative, I know), she researches and works with biologists, traveling all over the world to take pictures of things older than 2000 years old. Stewart Brand calls her […]

The science (or art?) of growing tree root bridges

In the depths of northeastern India, in one of the wettest places on earth, bridges aren’t built—they’re grown. India has over 1 billion people, and many of them live in poverty – 21% of all people in India fall below the international poverty line of US$ 1.25 per day. In many parts of the country, especially in the north-east, it always seems […]

The man who gave up money and lives in a cave in Utah

A while ago, we were telling you about the Iranian man who lives alone in the desert and hasn’t washed in 60 years; today’s story is similar, but very different. New footage has revealed insight into the life of Daniel Suelo – the man who has chosen to live without money for the past 12 years […]

Everything you wanted to know about homeopathy but never asked

Last week we described a study which concluded that homeopathy is nothing more than a placebo effect — it was just one of the many scientific studies which found the same thing. But many people swear by homeopathy and, judging from what’s happening in the comment section and our inbox, they feel very strongly about it. So […]

Rare portraits of Roald Amundsen

Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen – a famous Norwegian explorer, the first man to ever reach the South Pole. He used the skills he learned Netsilik people about Arctic survival skills, using sled dogs for transportation of goods and wearing animal skins in lieu of heavy, woolen parkas, which could not deter cold when wet (see below). In 1903, Amundsen led […]

These mind-boggling artifacts will change the way you see China

Throughout history, Chinese culture has rivaled and many times surpassed other, more famous empires — but many of their achievements are less known, at least in “the West”. You may very well be familiar with some of their achievements (for example papermaking, compass, gunpowder, printing, and many others) but these unusual artifacts will definitely change […]

Surreal artistic anatomical/botanical collages

It’s not often that we at ZME Science post art. However, every once in a while, we like to indulge ourselves in the finer pleasures of life – especially when we come across something like this! This is truly the most spectacular art I’ve seen in a while. Travis Bedel aka bedelgeuse is a mixed media artist that specializes […]

Meet General Sherman

General Sherman is a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in California. It is, by volume, the largest single stem tree on Earth. It has a height of 83.8 metres (275 ft), a diameter of 7.7 metres (25 ft), an estimated bole volume of 1,487 cubic metres (52,513 […]

Crania Americana: the most influential book on scientific racism

For men of simple means and upbringing, it’s easy to credit racism: the other fellow is different from me – his skin is of another color, his hair is weird, his language sounds stupid. Racism has had a wicked role to play in society since antiquity, fueling the murders and enslaving of millions of people […]

Meet the 80-year-old Iranian who hasn't washed in 60 years

Amou Haji, 80, believes that “cleanliness brings him sickness.” For that reason, he hasn’t bathed in the past 60 years, and he’s unofficially called the “dirtiest man in the world”. He lives in isolation in Dejgah village, in the Southern Iranian province of Fars. The man hates contact with water, and even the suggestion of […]

100 years past: remembering the Passenger Pigeon

It’s been over a hundred years since one of the most emblematic animal species in human history went extinct. Passenger pigeons numbered in the billions (literally), and yet humanity managed to bring them all down; on September 1st, 1914, scientists duly noted the disappearance of the species. It came as a shock (and a warning) […]

Drug Development: What it is, how it works, and why it matters

We’ve been receiving many messages from you guys, asking why exactly does it take so long to develop a new drug/treatment, especially when it appears to be extremely promising. So, in this article, I will explain what drug development is, how it works, why it takes so long (usually 10-15 years) and why it costs […]

The stoat: one of the most invasive animals in the world

The stoat may look cute, but it's one of the most invasive species in the world.

Tardigrades - the microscopic water bears that defy all odds

They’re small and cute, and while indeed these creatures are completely harmless, make no mistake – these are some tough ‘gummy bears’. Called tardigrades or water bears, these eight-legged invertebrates have evolved to survive in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. Rightfully so, they’ve been classed by scientists as extremophiles – creatures that are […]

#Overly Honest Methods

So there’s this thing on Twitter (it’s been going on for a while now). So, is this the best science hashtag or what?

Do women prefer hairy men? Attraction, psychology, and cultural influence are tangled up

Are hairy men attractive to women? The answer can vary greatly depending on culture and personal preference.

Critically endangered animals: The Black Rhino

As we were telling you a while back, the Western Black Rhino is officially extinct. Poaching, the loss of habitat, war… it was too much for the rhino to handle, and now, the species is extinct. But things don’t look especially better for other rhino species, and if something drastic doesn’t happen soon, we’ll soon […]

Tomtato or Pomato? Half potato, half tomato plant increases crop efficiency

The pomato is produced by grafting a tomato plant and a potato plant.

In Memoriam: A Brief Look at Pre-Google Search Engines

On July 8, 2013, Yahoo!, Inc., officially shut down and sent AltaVista.com to the depths of the internet necropolis, along with other old services that could be treated as irrelevant in today’s technosphere. If you visit the site today, it will automatically redirect you to Yahoo!’s search site, Yahoo.com. Let’s take a look back to […]

From Pigeons to Email: How Sending Letters and Packages Evolved

Before mobile phones, pagers and computers were born, writing letters were one of the most basic forms of communication. Communication is a vital aspect of a person’s everyday living to be able to convey their thoughts and ideas, to answer queries and everything else that needs to be expressed. Just like every single thing existing […]

Three of Superman’s Powers that Science is Close to Replicating

Superman is the granddaddy of every single super-powered hero in comics. Say what you will about Batman’s stealth, Spider-Man’s agility, or Wolverine’s regenerative abilities and complete lack of personal hygiene (hey, maybe those two are related), but the Big Blue Boy Scout will always be the first and perhaps the best costumed crimefighter in the […]

Fun and Exciting Chemical Experiments for Teaching and Learning

There’s no better way to foster interest in science and chemistry than seeing it in full, dazzling action. Most of the time, kids and young people wouldn’t really be all that interested in how chemistry works. They wouldn’t be particularly bothered about the different reactions you can get out of two different chemicals interacting with […]

This is the best predator in the world -- it's not what you think

The humble dragonfly is the most efficient predator in the world.

Everything you wanted to know about paracetamol

Paracetamol or acetaminophen (going by trade names such as Tylenol, Panadol, Efferalgan, and many more) is one of the most common and effective drugs out there. You’ve almost certainly took it at some point in your life, your parents have, your friends have, I don’t think I know more than a few people who never […]

The real color of water is blue -- here's why

While relatively small quantities of water appear to be colorless, water's tint becomes bluer and bluer as its thickness increases.

Using caddisflies and jewelry to create stunning works of art

The common caddisfly is, as the name calls it, common. They’re usually found near lakes, streams, ponds and rivers, and often used as a bait for trout fishermen. Their larva are aquatic and they create protective silk cases which incorporate bits of material from their surroundings, such as gravel, twigs or small pieces of shell. […]

Iapetus - the black-and-white walnut Moon

Iapetus is the third largest moon of Saturn, with a radius of about 42% that of our moon, and a mass that weighs up to only 2.5%. But Iapetus has a number of shocking features, unique throughout the entire solar system. The Walnut Moon This is the equatorial ridge that runs along the center of […]

Tectonics on Enceladus

As you may or may not know, we’ve launched a new section of our website: Science Questions and Answers – a section aimed at you guys, where you can ask all questions science-related, and share your knowledge with others. We’re still in the beta version, but please, feel free to ask away – we’ll do […]

The island that did not exist

Who doesn’t dream of a deserted tropical island..sandy beaches made of coral sand, with crystal clear water, blue like the sky – you know what I mean. And let’s say it would be somewhere off the coast of Australia, maybe near New Calledonia. That sounds perfect.. it’s a great place, a great place to imagine. Well, […]

Scientists prove 'immortal worms' can regenerate indefinitely and stay forever young

An immortal worm isn’t exactly what comes to mind when researching how to live forever, but this inconspicuous creature could hold some very valuable clues on eternal youth. Biologists from University of Nottingham spurred this big debate in 2008 when they claimed their object of study, the planaria or “flatworm” might actually be immortal. Essentially, this worm […]

The Sword of Goujian - still untarnished after 2700 years

The Sword of Goujian is a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

What makes a song 'catchy' - science explains

Learn what are the elements identified by science that make a catchy tune.

Amazing Brain Art

Brain-Art competition is an annual celebration of the beauty and creativity of artistic renderings emerging from the neuroimaging community. Last month concluded the first edition in which various artists from around the world submitted some incredible work for the competition’s galleries – 3D-rendering gallery, connectome gallery, abstract gallery and humorous gallery. Below are a few […]

12 Jobs You're Not Gonna Believe Were True

A job can be as hard or easy as you make it to be, depending on how much you enjoy or are passionate about your work. However, it’s pretty hard to imagine how some people working particularly bizarre jobs through out history thought or felt. Listed below are a couple of odd jobs that caught […]

Glass Beach, California -- how to turn a dump into something wonderful

A testament to how even a garbage dump can become something beautiful.

The best single handed invasion attempt ever

Well, it is the best, or the worst attempt ever actually, depends on your point of view. First, a little bit on the background: the attacking force was composed of an unemployed French nuclear physicist, André “mad scientist” Gardes. The defending team was a small island south of Britain named Sark, with a population of […]

Mining sulphur in an active volcano

Whenever you think you have the worst job ever, you definitely should think about the sulphur miners from Eastern Java, the men who treat poisoned lungs, burns, scars and constant danger as part of their everyday living. Each day, a few hundred men go deep in the heart of the Ijen volcano, with the sole […]

Skellig Michael - the monastery in the middle of the sea

“An incredible, impossible, mad place. I tell you the thing does not belong to any world that you and I have lived and worked in; it is part of our dream world.”– George Bernard Shaw Skellig Michael (from Sceilig Mhichíl in the Irish language, meaning Michael’s rock), also known as Great Skellig, is a steep […]

The fire waterfall

Yosemite is one of the best places to visit in the whole world, and it’s been fascinating people from all over the world since it was declared a national park in 1890; huge granite cliffs, splashing clear streams, massive sequoia groves and epic waterfalls all contribute to its unique charm. Among these natural wonders, a […]

Squirrels masturbate to avoid STDs

The Cape ground squirrel takes sex very seriously. For the males, the scrotum is about 20% of their body length, and the penis is twice as long; if you don’t believe me, this particular image will probably change your mind – but be warned ! It will be burned onto your brain for quite a […]

The 100 year old Belgian talking tree

Well the title is a bit deceiving, so let me clear this out a bit: this 100 year old Belgian tree doesn’t talk, in the old fashioned way. He does however, run a website, have a few thousand facebook friends and he tweets pretty often. I’ve gotta tell you, I absolutely loved this idea ! […]

The oldest dildo could come from the Stone Age

This is possibly one of the earliest sex toys in human history.

8 surreal natural landscapes

The Wave, Arizona The Wave is an astonishing sandstone formation that fascinates photographers and attracts numerous hikers every year. It formed in the early Jurassic (190 million years ago) when dinosaurs ruled the Earth and compacted through the years, calcifying in vertical and horizontal layers. The lovely curves we see today are a result of erosion […]

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