Andrei Mihai ZME Science

Why ants don't have traffic jams - hint: it's because they don't show off

Studying ants could help us reduce or even eliminate traffic jams, but only if we let go of our ego. Physicist Apoorva Nagar at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology found that ants don't have traffic jams, and we have much to learn from them when it comes to using a road.

National Geographic Traveler Contest Is Almost Wrapped Up - Here Are Some Amazing Entries

National Geographic invites photographers from around the world to enter the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest – but hurry up, the final submission date is 30 June! Eligible contestants can visit natgeo.com/travelerphotocontest to submit photographs in any or all of four categories: Travel Portraits; Outdoor Scenes; Sense of Place; and Spontaneous Moments. The entry fee […]

The world's first 3D printer supercar looks stunning, has amazing specs and is eco-friendly

It can reach 100 km/h (60 mph) in 2 seconds, it has a 700 horsepower engine, it weighs 90% less than traditional cars, it has less emissions and it’s 3D printed – it may very well be the car of the future. Despite technological developments, the automobile industry has remained relatively stagnant in the past […]

Dutch city of Utrecht will start experimenting with universal, unconditional basic income

The city of Utrecht will start experimenting with a new concept that could revolutionize society as we know it: basic income. Unconditional basic income is a form of social security system in which all residents receive an unconditional sum of money, regardless of whether or not they have another source of income.

Coral breeding may help reefs survive global warming

Coral reefs are as important to oceanic ecosystems as they are vulnerable to global warming and ocean acidification. Coral reefs are being destroyed around the world, not only because of risint temperatures, but also due to coral mining, agricultural and urban runoff, pollution (organic and inorganic), overfishing, blast fishing, disease, and the digging of canals and access […]

New dietary guidelines will bring fats back

"Fat is bad" seems to be a general rule when concocting dietary guidelines, but fatty foods may be making a comeback for all the right reasons. The latest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is due out later this year will eliminate the upper limit for total dietary fat intake.

Antarctica Yeti Crab Grows and Harvests its Own Food

Scientists have discovered and described the only known species of Yeti Crab that resides in Antarctica's Southern Ocean. The crab, which has a white fur all over its body, survives in an extremely inhospitable environment, close to the hydrothermal vents that spew hot water in the freezing ocean.

Small worlds, big pictures - former winners from Nikon's Photomicrography Competition

It’s been a while since these photos won the Nikon International Small World Photomicrography Competition in 2010, but their quality and intensity just makes me want to share them again. The competition began in 1974 as a means to recognize and applaud the efforts of those involved with photography through the light microscope. Here are the […]

Same-sex couple adoption doesn't have any negative effect on children

It's a touchy issue for some - the matter of adoption by homosexual couples. Some argue against this type of adoption, while others claim that there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Now, a new study conducted by University of Colorado Denver research found that children of same-sex parents experience 'no difference' in terms of social and behavioral outcomes to children of heterosexual couples.

Eco-friendly designer grows trees that become chairs, tables and lampshades

Taking a radically opposite stance on how we design our furniture, designer and innovator Gavin Munro has come up with a unique way to create furniture. Instead of cutting wood and joining the pieces together, he simply grows trees into chairs or tables. The idea is simple, yet innovative: let nature do all the work, and […]

Strange "X-Ray Rainbow" could be used to calculate stellar distances

NASA released the breathtaking image you see below, announcing that it is basically X-ray light echoes reflecting off clouds of dust. But this image does more than thrill us amateur stargazers – it helps astronomers figure out how far away the double star system Circinus X-1 is from Earth. “It’s really hard to get accurate distance measurements […]

Teens create condom that changes color if you have an STD

A group of UK teenages have invented a condom that changes colors and glows if you/he have/has an STD. Aptly named the S.T. EYE, the condom has a built-in chemical detector that detects infections such as chlamydia and syphilis, and lets you (and your partner) know.

Rosetta to continue its mission and land on a comet

The European Space Agency has confirmed that the Rosetta mission will continue until at least September 2016, when it will most likely land on a comet called Comet 67P.

New "organ on a chip" design could eliminate the need for animal testing

A clear, apparently simple plastic chip could eliminate the need for animal testing. The design, which basically mimics the functions of human organs, won the Design of the Year award from the Design Museum in London.

Historical pistols: a WWII anatomy project

WWII was the largest conflict known to mankind, responsible for 50 to 80 million fatalities, involving most of the countries in the world. Historians are still fascinated by this tragic event to this day, and while we here at ZME Science are not big gun fans nor do we support technology that’s built to kill, we […]

Europe's oldest prehistoric town confirmed in Bulgaria

Archaeologists working in Bulgaria have confirmed that they uncovered the oldest prehistoric town in Europe. The town was likely home to some 400 people and dates back to between 4700 and 4200 BC - about 1,500 years before the emergence of the Greek civilization.

Stonehenge was actually the core of a huge spiritual centre

We tend to think of the Stonehenge as a lone giant, huge blocks of rock towering over the quiet British landscape. But as a new study has revealed, Stonehenge was likely a diverse and vibrant place, a complex of different religious and cultural settings. Painting Stonehenge in New Light Using geophysical techniques (mostly Ground […]

Even More Spectacular Fungi Photos by Steve Axford

In September 2014, we were telling you about Steve Axford’s spectacular mushroom photography. I was truly fascinated by the art and the insight he provides into this tiny and mysterious world. Most of his work is done on Australian fungus, and he says he likes to take pictures of things that are close to home. “My […]

They did the math - things you won't believe people on the internet calculated

Every once in a while, you stumble upon a statement or question so preposterous that you don’t even bother thinking about it – but somewhere, someone on the internet did the math. This is a list of that kind of things – crazy things that someone actually calculated. This is not real science though, so […]

Five-decade study links pesticides to breast cancer

A long term study conducted by US researchers has found a connection between levels of DDT pesticide and breast cancer - women with high levels of DDT in their body were four times more likely to develop breast cancer.

Skeletons with lavish jewelry found in Roman catacombs

They call them the Catacomb Saints – ancient Roman corpses that were exhumed from the catacombs of Rome, given fictitious names and sent abroad as relics of saints from the 16th century to the 19th century. They were decorated with extreme lavishness, as you can see below. But why – why would they be decorated with […]

How NASA might save the world from killer asteroids

It almost looks like a sci-fi movie; in a small, crammed room at the Goddard Space Flight Center, a group of brilliant NASA researchers are discussing ways to protect our planet from dangerous asteroids. But this is not a movie, it’s reality – and it’s happening now. So how big is the threat from asteroids? Spoiler […]

A Spectacular Pie Chart of the World's Most Spoken Languages

“A world of languages” is a fascinating infographic created by Alberto Lucas Lopéz for the South China Morning Post. It highlights the most spoken languages in the world, and what countries actually speak them. The results may surprise you, so have a look: Lopez explains: “There are at least 7,102 known languages alive in the […]

Why raindrops are basically sky pearls

At the center of every raindrop there is an impurity (dust, clay, etc) – basically all raindrops have something like that at its core, just like pearls do. So in a way, raindrops form just like pearls. Let’s look at this phenomenon in more detail. In one form or another, water is always present in […]

Viva la Robolucion - Artist creates vintage robots from junk parts

Bruno Lefevre-Brauer, known as + Brauer, is a graphic designer living in Paris. Recently, he’s been working creating vintage, almost steampunk-ish robots from old pieces of scrap. More than their technological features, he tries to reveal the original, almost primitive, form of the robots he creates. +Brauer carefully chooses vintage objects that have an industrial past, […]

Earth's water basins disappearing at alarming rate, study finds

We tend to think of the Earth's water as an inexhaustible resource; after all, you learn the basic water cycle in first grade - water moves from the rivers to the oceans and then evaporates into the atmosphere and then it comes back as rain - so how could it be disappearing? Well, the reality is much more complex than that, and as two different studies showed, we may actually be heading towards a major water crisis.

Scientists create neural lace that fuses with your brain

In a world where in only a few decades we moved from clunky phones to wireless satellite-connected devices that allow you to be anywhere and do anything on the internet, it seems only normal that scientists will take it to the next level - to your brain. Already tested on mice, this fine mesh fits inside a syringe and unfurls on the brain to monitor its activity.

Renewable energy might dominate the market by 2030

In only 15 years, renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro) could surpass fossil fuels as the main provider of energy. According to a new International Energy Agency (IEA) report, renewables could provide more than 50% of the energy market by 2050. But even so, they warn, without bolder emission cuts, we'll be blowing past our current climate targets.

State politics affect greenhouse gas emissions

It seems rather obvious to me, but there was a lot of debate regarding how a country’s politics affect its emissions – for better or for worse. A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that environmental policies in the US have had a significant impact on emissions from 1990 […]

9 Awesome Gifts For your Office Pals

We tend to associate the word “office” with other words like “boring” or “work” – but it doesn’t have to be like that. Here are some gifts which you can give to your pals (or buy for yourself) to lighten up that hard day at the office. Zombie Pencil Holder What better way to […]

Gold Nanospirals Might Protect Your Identity

Microscopic swirls from gold might be the key to protect your cash and credit cards in the future, making identity theft virtually impossible. Researchers at Vanderbilt University developed the "Archimedes spirals" and report that they produce four times more blue light per unit volume than currently existing frequency amplifiers; they could be printed on currency, ID cards and pretty much everything that's important to prevent counterfeiting.

The LHC is back - and it's stronger than ever

After the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) took a 2 year hiatus to up its power, it's finally back, and it's stronger than ever - strong enough to uncover some of physics best kept secrets. Today, June 3, the LhC started delivering physics data for the first time in 27 months.

The future is here: solar is cheaper than grid electricity for 30 million Americans

Rooftop solar is now cheaper than grid electricity for 30 million people living in 6 cities, a new report writes - even without government subsidies. This includes the cost of installing the solar panels. In other words, the future is here - solar energy is cheaper than the alternative.

This new $2.50 device extends disposable battery life by 800% - will hit the market in September

A simple, cheap device could extend disposable battery life eight-fold; it suits all batteries from AAA to D and it works by keeping its voltage boosted to just above what most appliances consider ‘dead’. The technology was developed by US-based start-up, Batteroo and it’s called a ‘Batteriser’. It basically comprises of a very thin stainless steel sleeve (0.1 mm) that […]

Chimps cook if given the chance, study shows

Chimps not only have the brain power to understand the concept of cooked food, but they are willing to delay eating raw food if they know they can cook it. This highlights impressive cognitive abilities, such as the foresight and patience to resist their urge of eating food.

Google's new finger control technology seems taken from a science fiction movie

Swiping your phone’s touchscreen might disappear just as quickly as it emerged, if Google have their way. When their new technology hits the shelves, you won’t even have to touch a screen ever again. Here’s why. It’s called Project Soli, and it uses radar waves to detect precise finger movements – or as they call […]

Google AI will tell you how many calories there are in your food pics

We've all seen them - the food pics are everywhere. Instagram has basically become a food porn haven, with everyone sharing their delicious lunch or snack. But those pics could actually yield valuable information, and tell you how many calories you're eating.

French Minister: US Congress Won't Approve Climate Deal

The entire world is expecting the results of the Paris Climate Conference - will a global treaty finally be reach, or will it be another round of discussions and promises with no pro-active solutions? The French Foreign minister believes that if we are to reach a climate deal, it has to be phrased in such a way that it doesn't require approval from the US Congress. Laurent Fabius said:

Longest floating structure might clean the oceans

Boyan Slat, 20-year old founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup announced the world’s first passive system that will clean-up plastic pollution. The 2,000 floating array will be launched in 2016. We tend to think of oceans as infinite systems, and it might seem that any pollution we dump into them will just get diluted […]

A new approach for cancer treatment: tailor for the patient, not for the cancer

If we want to defeat cancer, we have to treat every patient uniquely, a team from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) concluded. They announced the trial of a new type of cancer test – one that is designed for the patient, not for a specific condition. “This is really the first time in a very large way […]

Giant sawfish exhibit virgin birth, reproducing without sex

A routine DNA test came up with some extremely surprising results - female sawfish in Florida reproduce without mating with males. This is among the very few times this process was observed in vertebrates.

How would the world look like without ice?

There are more than five million cubic miles of ice on Earth, and throughout our planet’s history, there have been periods with both more, and less ice. We tend to think of ice as an immovable reality but in truth, planetary ice is quite volatile. With continuously rising temperatures, melting ice and rising sea levels […]

Artist Transforms Junk Into Beautiful Street Art to Remind us of Pollution

Portuguese artist Artur Bordalo’s (aka Bordalo II) creates artwork from junk, but that doesn’t make it any less cute! He uses only junk to bring these animals to life, each of them a larger-than-life version of their biological versions. Each statue carries with it a powerful message, because each animal is built from materials responsible for its […]

The 2C global warming goal may be buried in Paris

The plan for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP21, was to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, from all the nations of the world. But tackling global warming simply doesn't seem to be a priority for the governments of most countries, and the goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) seems less and less likely.

Elon Musk's Hyperloop 'might be free to passengers'

As if Elon Musk's Hyperloop project wasn't attractive enough, it just got even hotter - Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of the company running the project announced that the super-fast transportation might actually be free for passengers, as they are thinking about other types of monetisation.

Archaeologists find 2,400 year old gold bongs used for cannabis and opium

Two apparent bongs likely used by Scythian tribal chieftains have discovered by archaeologists in Russia. But unlike modern bongs, these ones are made of solid gold.

Author of Gay Marriage Study Admits to Lies

A few days ago, we were telling you about a seemingly fake study on changing people’s opinions on gay marriage. Michael LaCour, a very promising grad student from UCLA apparently forged data and lied about how he got it, and the study which had been published in Science, one of the largest journals in the world, […]

Norway's $900 billion fund will stop investing in coal

Norway's Parliament has agreed that their sovereign energy fund should divest from investments in coal in an attempt to mitigate climate change.

Watch: The first 21 days of a bee's life in stunning timelapse

As part of a recent TED Talk (presented at the bottom of this article) photographer Anand Varma captured the incredible 21 day transformation from bee egg to larvae to pupae to adult, all in a breathtaking one-minute time-lapse video: In order to construct this time-lapse, Varma raised bees in his backyard, in front of a […]

Ancient CSI: Scientists investigate 430,000 year old Murder

Anthropologists have uncovered a 430,000 year old homo skull with fatal wounds that represents the earliest identified murder case in human history.

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