Cancel

gear Push settings

bars

homehome Home chatchat Notifications


11 Volcanic Craters to Blow Your Mind

Volcanoes are truly amazing – spewing out lava from the depths of the planet, they are a close reminder that our planet is very much alive and constantly changing. Even after they become dormant or extinct, volcanoes are still incredibly majestic – here we’ll take a look at just some of the most spectacular craters they […]

Water-breathing scuba mask design still has a way to go

South Korean designer Jeabyun Yeon has just unveiled his new concept of a scuba mask that would allow anyone to breathe underwater without requiring air tanks. His design, named the Triton, includes two arms linked to a mouth piece. The branching arms are designed to extract free oxygen atoms from the water and supply breathable air directly to the user. But I'm not sold on it just yet.

The tiny Egloo keeps your room warm for about 20 cents a day

Winter's here with all its holiday cheer and if you're like me, way too much food. Also something that winter's very good at is making the great outdoors cold and the small indoors even colder. But worry not because Marco Zagaria, a student at Rome's Academy of Fine Arts, promises he can make your home warm and comfortable for a measly 10 cents a room each day, without using any electricity.

NASA's Top 15 ISS Pictures of 2015

NASA just released their famous pictures taken from the International Space Station in 2015. The images were shot by astronauts aboard the ISS and the list was selected by NASA Johnson Space Center’s Earth Observations team. It wasn’t an easy job with many bedazzling photos fighting for the top positions. 1. Lake Chad and a Bodele Dust […]

Rare footage of Giant Squid captured in Japan

Japanese television has released extremely rare footage of a giant squid swimming in the Sea of Japan.

The devastating scale of WWII and the new age of peace: one data-driven documentary

World War II was the most devasting war in human history, if we're to rank by casualties in absolute numbers or even in terms of horror. No other war was this gruesome.

Albert Einstein's secret to learning anything

A message from Einstein that shines of fatherly wisdom and speaks of something that most people should always consider: how to learn.

Forensic Expert creates the most accurate Jesus you've seen so far

Christianity is currently the world's largest religious movement, with an estimated 2.2 billion followers. And because he plays such a huge role in christian mythos and practice, and because of the influence he's had on the course of history (we even date our years after his birth), we all know how Jesus Christ looks like. We've seen it in paintings. on tv, in church, on Christmas; he's white, long haired and wears something thorny. Right?

Amazing Custom Clock built using CNC, laser cutting and 3D printing - all using one hybrid printer

This beauty was designed, crafted and assembled by Matt Olczyk. The custom-made clock looks like a cross between old pendulum antiques and modern, minimalist designs. All the parts were custom made in Olczyk's shop using CNC milling, laser cutting and 3D-printing. The real innovation, however, lied in the fat that all of these operations were performed by one single machine - the ZMorph Hybrid 3D printer.

The 360-degree SkyDeck: this is what First Class should really look like

A company called Windspeed Tech has for the past year or so been busy designing a novel upgrade to carriers and jets: a little bubble placed on the tail of an aircraft that offers a fantastic 360 degree view.

The only thing that might stop Elon Musk from getting to Mars is WWIII

"There's a window that could be opened for a long time or a short time where we have an opportunity to establish a self-sustaining base on Mars," Musk says.

Hidden portrait found under the Mona Lisa

In what reads like the headline for a modern mystery novel, a researcher has found a hidden portrait under the Mona Lisa - or so he claims.

How to build a human, in one amazing infographic

It all starts with a lucky spermatozoon and one egg. When the two merge, a genetically unique entity is formed shortly thereafter, called a zygote which has half of its DNA from the sperm, and the other half from the egg. The zygote first divides into two identical cells, called blastomeres. Five days after conception, the grouping of cells are now called a blastocyst. A cavity appears in its center. It has an inner group of cells which will become the embryo and later the fetus, and still later the newborn. In between, there's a lot of things happening and this fantastic animated infographic designed by Eleanor Lutz does a great job summing things up visually.

Data scientist traces main source of climate deniers' funding

All of the current Republican presidential candidates make a point of denying what scientists and the common folk have come to agree upon in much of the world, and of preserving the status quo in the energy sector. Why are these public figures, with aspirations of world leaders, basing so much of their policy on a fossil fuel-centric agenda that will only come back to bite us? In a revelation that shouldn't shock anyone who's even remotely aware of the concept of money, it's because they're being paid off.

What touching Fairy Holograms in mid-air looks like

Most people would love to a holographic display in their rooms, and seriously you might not have to wait too long for this to happen. Japanese researchers demonstrate how lasers can be used to manipulate holograms.

How many slaves work for you? Find out in this online test

Income inequality and social stratification are hallmarks of today's economy, both in the context of a single country and on an international level. Even in traditionally rich, developed, industrialized countries where life quality is high and there are plenty of goods to go round, it's become apparent that the current way of doing things just isn't sustainable and that too much wealth is held by too few people.

The latest trend in green houses: moss walls

More and more people are greening their homes, and that’s definitely a good thing – whether it’s renewable energy or green walls, it can not only save you a lot of money and reduce your carbon footprint, but also increase your home’s appeal and make it more cozy. The latest trend that’s picking up steam […]

Fun GIF shows what hydrophobic coating can do

Hydrophobic coating is without a doubt one of the most coolest inventions in recent years, but it's sometimes hard to imagine just how it can be useful.

18th century alternatives for Thanksgiving recipes

Today, the world seems split into two different parts: some people devouring dramatically large pieces of turkey, and the other ones that simply don’t care about Thanksgiving. But no matter what category you fall into, it’s a good time of the year to enjoy some good food. With this in mind, I thought I’d share […]

NASA shows how much CO2 we really pump into the atmosphere

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have never been higher: the average global CO2 levels have reached the 400 parts per million (ppm) milestone in the spring of 2015, The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced in the first week of November. Secretary-General Michel Jarraud warns that it won't be long before even higher levels of the gas become a "permanent reality."

20 Years of International Climate Change Politics: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Philipp Pattberg, a professor of transnational environmental governance and policy at VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands, focuses on the study of global environmental politics, with a focus on climate change governance and biodiversity. Here, he gives a talk about more than 20 years of international climate change diplomacy, from the successful negotiation of the 1992 United Nations […]

Shackleton's 1915 expedition to Antarctica showcased in New Photos

n 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole, followed by Scott who died on the return journey. Shackleton searched in his mind for some other daring goal. He finally settled on crossing of the Antarctic continent from coast to coast via the South Pole, a distance of about 1800 miles.

Climate change: It's real, and it's up to us

The little things we do matter: being more responsible with the resources we use, walking that extra stop, even speaking our voice out, it all matters.

Tiny two-legged puppy receives life-time supply of 3D printed wheelchairs

When Tumbles was born in Ohio with just two back legs, prospects didn’t seem that good for him, in a world where having just two legs is sadly, as good as a life sentence for most animals. Friends of the Shelter Dogs in Athens rescued and bottle-fed him, and not long after that, a family adopted […]

Are cats really afraid of cucumbers?

In recent days, the internet has been flooded with images and videos of cats having hilarious reactions to cucumbers stealthily placed behind them.

Does your data 'hover on the brink of significance?' - an insignificant, but hilarious detour

Or when your experiment's results are 'almost' there.

New Horizons images suggest Pluto is geologically active

NASA released a stunningly colorful new image of the dwarf planet Pluto, the latest in a series of images that steadily trickle down from the New Horizons probe since it left the solar system this July. And it's not only eye candy either; the features this picture reveals has left the smart guys at the agency scratching their heads.

Interview with Dr. Thomas Watters, from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

We recently got the chance to talk to Dr. Thomas Watters from the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Watters is a Co-Investigator on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, and discussing lunar tectonics with him was highly insightful: ZME: Your background is in geology and tectonics, how was the transition to planetary sciences? How is studying geology […]

Ant colonies behave as a single superorganism when attacked

Ant colonies are incredibly complex systems -- the tightly knit, intensely cooperative colonies are closer to a single superorganism than to human societies. Researchers form the University of Bristol wanted to know how this single mind of the hive reacted to distress, and subjected colonies of migrating rock ants to differing forms of simulated predator attack to record their response.

Discarded festival tents turned into Sheltersuits for the homeless

In the wake of big festivals like Coachella or Glastonbury, you'll find trash and the ravages of partying littered across the whole site. Oddly enough, you'll also find loads of abandoned, but useful gear like phone chargers, couches and, most frequently, tents. A creative Dutch designer now has an idea on how to repurpuse the latter: turn them into suits that double as sleeping bags for the homeless.

Liverpool becomes the first city to try out fast walking lanes... sort of

As anyone who’s visited a big city knows, few things are more annoying than being stuck behind meandering tourists when you’re trying to get somewhere fast. Now, the British city of Liverpool has come up with an ingenious solution: fast walking lanes. I often complain that crowded sidewalks are too difficult to navigate: you’ve got […]

Treasure trove of Permian fossils discovered in Brazil

The fossils were discovered in the Parnaiba Basin of north-eastern Brazil, and are some 278 million years old, corresponding to the Permian period, when all the continents we know today were still fused together.

Ray Kurzweil: Why We Should Live Forever

The famous inventor and tech pundit shares a few words on why he thinks humans will soon live forever.

Finland prepares basic income model

The Finnish Social Insurance Institution, Kela, is currently drawing plans for a nation-wide implementation of basic income.

Do you know how much water goes to make your food?

Approximately 3.8tn cubic metres of water is used by humans annually with 70% being consumed by the global agriculture sector, according to a report issued by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME). Strikingly, up to 50% of all food is thrown away before it gets the chance to reach consumers, often out of frivolous reasons. In terms of water that's 550bn cubic metres that go to waste each year. At the same time, approximately 795 million people in the world are chronically malnourished and 1 in 10 lack access to clean water. While policy makers should take more notice and take measures to curb waste, there's much you can do yourself to cut on waste. Eglė Plytnikaitė, an illustrator from Vilnius, Lithuania made some insightful drawings showing how much water goes into some of the most popular foodstuff.

How long carved pumpkins last - and how you can make it last more

Here, we'll see what the science says.

Interview with Christopher Russell, principal investigator of NASA's Dawn Mission

Christopher Russell is the head of the Space Physics Center at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) at UCLA, and he also leads the NASA’s Dawn Mission team. Dawn orbited Vesta in 2011 and 2012, offering valuable insight not only about the two minor planets, but about the solar system itself. Professor Russell took the […]

Great Scott! Today is future day!

Do you know what day today is? It's Back to the Future day!

U.S. economic losses from hurricanes fueled by climate change

A recent U.S. study shows how the upward trend in economic damage from hurricanes correlates very closely to the influence global warming has on the number and intensity of hurricanes. Published in Nature Geoscience, it concludes that the commonly cited reasons for growing hurricane damage -- increases in vulnerability, value, and exposure of property -- don't stand up very well to scrutiny.

1000 ft Long, 600 ft High Suspension Bridge Opens in China - and it's Transparent

A 300 meter long (984 ft) glass suspension bridge, 180 meters (591 ft) above the ground has recently opened in Hunan, part of China’s Shiniuzhai National Geological Park. As if that wasn’t scary enough, the entire thing is made of glass-like material, and it’s transparent. Eloquently named Haohan Qiao or ‘Brave Men’s Bridge’, the bridge is an […]

Huge, beautiful bioenergy plant in Leeds will sort 214,000 tons of waste each year

Leeds seems set to become one of the green poles of the world as architects have unveiled plans to build a bioenergy plant that will generate energy from 214,000 tons of waste collected each year from black bins in Leeds. The building, designed by Jean-Robert Mazaud of S’pace Architects, is expected to open in six months. […]

Sweden is becoming the first cashless country, report finds

Is going cashless really a benefit though?

Astropicture of the Week: Pluto

We’ve seen Pluto in all its splendor recently thanks to the New Horizons mission that flew by the former planet / currently planetoid, but just when you thought it can’t surprise you anymore… something like this comes along. This is Pluto. Recently, a paper was published based on the data that New Horizons sent back […]

Challenging the "Out of Africa" theory, one tooth at a time

Recent fossils unearthed in the Chinese province of Daoxian come to unravel the story of humanity’s spread as we know it today. The find consists of 47 teeth, belonging to modern humans, but what’s really important is their age – they have been dated to 80,000 years ago. This number doesn’t fit with the “Out of Africa” migration theory, holding that humans originate and have spread from the horn of the continent all around the world. The theory as we know it can’t explain human presence in the area for another 20,000 years.

This year's best microphotography

Every year Nikon holds the Small World Photomicrography Competition awarding the very finest photographers that capture the essence of the micro world. For 2015, the winner was Ralph Grimm from Australia with a close-up of a bee eye covered in dandelion pollen grains. This was no lucky shot. Grimm says it took four hours to prepare, including setting focus increments, proper illumination and stacking.

Yale released 170,000 striking photos dating from the Great Depression

Previously stored away in government archives, some 170,000 photographs from the time of the Great Depression have been now released to the public by Yale University.

Engineer develops "Thor's hammer" that only he can lift

Thor’s hammer was so magically heavy that only the worthy could lift it – and only Thor was worthy enough (or maybe … I don’t know, I haven’t watched the new Marvel movies). Electrical engineer Allen Pan, aka Sufficiently Advanced on YouTube,decided to replicate in his very own take on a “working” Mjolnir. The best way […]

Where the Great Wall of China Ends

The Great Wall of China, one of the most known man-made structures on Earth spanned over 8,850 km (5,500 mi), which includes 6,259 km (3,889 mi) sections of actual wall, 359 km (223 mi) of trenches and 2,232 km (1,387 mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers. This is where it all ends. Especially […]

Bill Gates: 'We need an energy miracle'

Bill Gates, the wealthiest man in the world in 2014, has for the past decade concentrated his efforts and resources into philanthropic projects aimed to transform the world. He's invested billions in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which concentrates on improving health and helping the world's poor access technology and basic services. Some of Gates' funded projects were covered by ZME Science, like the Omniprocessor that turns sludge into electricity and pure, clean water or the solar power toilets. As you can see, energy is key to meeting any humanitarian goal. It also matters how you get this energy. If we continue to burn fossil fuel at this rate, the planet might irreversibly warm by a couple degrees Celsius, with cataclysmic shifts. That's why Gates has pledged $2 billion strictly into energy R&D.

Intricate "Plant Sculptures" Are Beautiful and Make You Think

French artist Emeric Chantier’s recent series of plant sculptures is not only a spectacular work of art, but it provides a strong reflection on the place of human beings in nature, as well as our relationship with nature. Are we killing nature, is it killing us, or are we living together in harmony? His series of […]
1 … 20 21 22 23 24 … 39