Features on ZME Science

What causes running pain and why it's a sign 'you're doing it right'

There’s a common misconception that some people just aren't made to run. Here's what science says, instead.

World's deepest underwater cave discovered in Czech Republic -- explorers still haven't reached the bottom

It's so deep explorers had to use a submersible robot to map the cave. The rope wasn't long enough, though.

Four things Jules Verne got right and four he didn't

He wasn't always right -- but he was pretty close.

Can animals get depressed too?

The jury is still out but the evidence seems to suggest 'yes'.

How to make your compost - easy, cheap, and sustainable

If more people composted then we'd enjoy better soils, more productive gardens and better food.

The difference between a species and a subspecies - according to science

A handy guide to tell the two appart.

Is licking your wounds actually a good thing?

Comes with benefits, but also risks. At the end of the day just use a band-aid.

Why coffee makes me poop

For 3 in 10 people, coffee brings much more than just a morning buzz - it brings a bowel movement.

How blind people dream -- the experience is just as rich, science says

Most blind people can't see in their dreams, but their experience is just as rich as everyone else's.

What is El Niño?

El Niño is an oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific which impacts weather patterns.

The Red Light Forest - Prostitution in the Animal World

For pebbles, meat, or nectar, these animals found that nothing sells quite as well as sex.

Amazing Chemical Reactions You're Not Going to Believe Are Real

Some are surprising, some are dangerous -- but all amazing chemical reactions. Don't try this at home!

14 GIFs of products being made: deep inside the plant

I could look at these all day.

The story of Poland's secret "Flying Universities" that gave men and women equal chance, Marie Curie among them

How Polish scholars started an underground movement in the late 1800s for their education.

Why Lego won't ever make 'realistic' military-related toys

Because it doesn't think war is child's play.

3 facts about water that prove it doesn't play by the rules

We drink it, we bathe in it, but it's stranger than you'd think.

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.

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