Inventions on ZME Science

The small town in Germany where both the car and the bicycle were invented

In the quiet German town of Mannheim, two radical inventions—the bicycle and the automobile—took their first wobbly rides and forever changed how the world moves.

Real-life invisibility cloaks are already here. But how do they work?

Invisibility cloaks have already transcended fiction. The future is now.

What Are Molten Salt Reactors: The Saviors of Nuclear Power

A molten salt reactor (MSR) is a type of nuclear reactor that uses liquid fuel instead of the solid fuel rods used in conventional nuclear reactors.

Why were chainsaws invented? It wasn't to cut wood

This wood-splitting tool was initially intended to help deliver babies rather than cut wood.

How do night vision goggles work?

Such goggles can make night look bright as day.

Who really invented the internet?

Cerf and Kahn may have invented the primary protocol for the internet, but many others made valuable contributions.

The astrolabe: the Swiss Army knife of ancient celestial navigation

This portable astronomical calculator helped sailors explore the world for centuries.

SciFi futuristic weapons that already exist now

Traditional weapons may soon get replaced by a futuristic laser-based arsenal.

What are 'iron lungs', and could this old tech still be useful today?

Although the technology is old, it can learn new tricks and still serve us well.

The 'Tsar Bomba': the most powerful nuclear weapon ever made

The nuclear device was so powerful, it was too big to use effectively.

Hoverboards are now real -- and the science behind them is dope

Hoverboards like the ones in Back to the Future II now exist for real. Sort of.

What is a Faraday cage and how does it work?

It prevents the entry or escape of electromagnetic fields

What's in a futuristic house? 3D printing, automation, among many others

Among others, future houses could enable us to live on the sea and save us from the dangers of climate change.

The Pythagorean cup - the vessel that spills your booze if you're too greedy

One of the finest bits of mathematical trolling by the great Pythagoras himself.

How GPS works: the magic of satellites and precise watches

It's one of the modern wonders of the world, and we just take it for granted.

What are nuclear reactors and how do they work?

The ultimate embodiment of ‘high risk, high rewards'.

How does an air conditioner work?

Simple questions often lead to very rich topics.

What are sensors, how they work, and why they're everywhere

They tell us what's going on in nature, in a way that's easy to read and understand.

Examples of electricity in nature

Electricity is quite busy in the natural world.

Meet the cyanometer: an 18th-century device solely built to measure the blueness of the sky

A brilliant scientist obsessed with climbing the highest peak in the Alps thought of a peculiar measuring instrument.

Why TRISO particles could open a new age for nuclear power

The robustness and potential of this type of nuclear fuel gives new hopes of clean and safe nuclear power.

What's an MRI and how does it work?

MRI scanners have proven revolutionary in medical practice and neuroscience.

What is the house of the future going to look like?

Bigger, better, faster, stronger. Ok, maybe just better and stronger.

The LED sun: artificial sunlight mimics natural light

A natural skyline at the flick of a switch.

A brief look at how the idea of elevators came up

They really are an underappreciated invention -- it took a lot of work!

The table of disruptive technologies: a timeline of industry-killing breakthroughs

Do you know what future tech looks like?

Who invented the microwave oven?

WWII radar technology unexpectedly led to the invention of the common microwave oven.

What's a Galileo thermometer and how do you read it?

While it's not the most precise instrument, it's certainly one of the most attractive.

Tesla Model 3: All About The Most Anticipated Car Ever

A glimpse at the future: the electric, self-driven vehicle of choice for the average American home.

Who invented air conditioning?

Willis Carrier invented air conditioning in the early 20th century. But many other people made their contribution.

Who invented the flushing toilet?

A historical account of one of mankind's most important inventions.

Who invented the induction motor

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

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.

The 240-year-old beautiful ancestor of the modern computer

You may find it hard to believe, but what you’re seeing in the picture above is actually a self-operating, programmable machine, capable of writing letters and words with a quill pen, that’s still functioning after a quarter of a millennium. The lovely automatons An automaton (plural: automata or automatons) is a self-operating machine or robot. […]

Is this the most accurate tech prediction ever?

Nikola Tesla had it right since 1908.

Tanktastic: a brief overview of the modern-day knight in shining armour

Here at ZME Science we aren't very fond of war, but I think tanks are really awesome.

Thomas Edison's legacy: inventions and discoveries

If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. – Thomas Edison Edison is a very controversial character. Although during his life he patented over 1,000 inventions, he often receives credit for inventions he didn’t necessarily create from scratch but rather […]

Five Scientific Inventions That Changed the Course of History

These exciting discoveries changed the course of humanity.