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Rio Olympics could spark global health crisis

The 2016 Olympics in Rio are riddled with problems, one of them being a potentially global pandemic. Medical doctors are worried that the huge gathering could spark a massive Zika epidemic.

If you like hamburgers, you should read this

If you like burgers - and let's face it, you do - then we have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that most of the burgers in America are OK - a molecular analysis showed that there is nothing wrong in terms of nutritional content and ingredients. But a small minority was not OK.

Bacterial cells are individualists, too

Even though they're genetically identical and live in the same environment, not all bacteria are the same. When times are tough more bacteria become individualists gobbling resources in the detriment of the colony, but in doing so the individualists actually enhance the colony's survival rate.

These ten organizations dominate science publishing, and it's probably not who you think

It's hard to quantify the total contribution of a university or research group to science, but the Nature Index is one of the more reliable options. It is basically a database of author affiliation information collated from research articles published in a selection of 68 high-quality science journals. These are the ten most significant institutions in 2015.

Oldest space dust shows how Earth's ancient atmosphere was like 2.7 billion years ago

A team from Monash University, Australia, and Imperial College, U.K., found the oldest micrometeorites ever and by studying them could determine what the planet's atmosphere looked like 2.7 billion years ago when these objects impacted the surface.

THC blood tests can't predict impaired driving and should be scrapped, AAA says

The AAA Foundation for traffic safety ordered a handful of studies that assess the effects marijuana legalization had on driving safety. The studies arrived at a number of worrisome conclusions. Fatal crashes involving drivers who used marijuana doubled since the state lifted the ban. Also, researchers found the marijuana blood limit allowed for driving, known as per se limits, is arbitrary and not based on actual science.

Germany generated so much renewable energy it had to pay to get rid of it

On May 8, Germany generated a record high amount of renewable energy. Solar, wind, hydro and biomass plants together generated 55 GW of power or 87% of the demand thanks to unusually good winds and sunny conditions.

Japan now has more electric car charge points than petrol stations

A new study has found that the 35,000 gas filling stations have been overcome by more than 40,000 recharge points, although many are private-owned.

Half of your friends don't actually feel the same way, probably

How many friends do you think you have? A hundred, twenty... two? Chances have it, you actually have only half as many 'real' friends as you think. At least, those who look to you as a friend too, say researchers at MIT's Media Lab.

Carrot genome explains why these are orange

Carrots are the richest source of vitamin A in the American diet, which is why you hear "they're good for your eyes". But did you know carrots were initially yellow and purple? Even further back, before humans domesticated carrots, the wild variety was white. Scientists know this by sequencing the DNA of the carrot, and a recent study deciphered its full genetic code. We now know what genes trigger the production of carrots' most important nutrients, but also what teaking is required to improve the crops.

What separates the wolves from the sheep in the stock market?

"Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy only when others are fearful," said Warren Buffet, arguably the most astute contemporary investor in the world. Research by Caltech and Virginia Tech backs this sound advice, after delving deep into the investor mind and framework by analyzing stock market behavior at the neurolevel.

The squishy bot revolution: how soft robotics is changing the field

Soft robotics involves machines designed to resemble biological systems like squids, caterpillars, starfish, human hands and more. Though far less practical at this point, soft robots could prove invaluable soon enough. ZME Science looked at a couple of some of the most amazing designs made by scientists so far.

The cost of sequencing the human genome has dropped from $100M in 2001 to under $1,000 in 2016

The price was just under $10 million at the end of 2007, to being under $10,000 in 2011! In a mere four years, the price decreased by a factor of a thousand and today, you could sequence your genome for around $1,000.

How trade routes forever changed the dromedary camel's genetic makeup

Known as the “ship of the desert”, the dromedary camel is one of the largest domestic ungulates and one of the most recent additions to livestock. For 3,000 years, the dromedary camel has been the burden animal of choice for transporting goods across the deserts of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and all of this back and forth has left a permanent mark on their genetic makeup.

Ancient reptiles were warm-blooded beasts, study finds

A surprising study found that a group of ancient lizards called mosasaurs were in fact warm-blooded.

Breaking the Backlash - A take on the social psychology of discrimination

How social psychology explains, and might one day break, the hate wave that's sweeping the world.

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 […]

The Pentagon is investing heavily to protect its 'space real estate'

Both civilian and military applications have become heavily reliant on digital communications, which in turn are dependent on space hardware like satellites. If only two decades ago, only the biggest companies or wealthy governments could afford to launch permanent or semi-permanent satellites. Today, satellites are smaller, better and cheaper than they ever were, which is why there are more than 1,100 active satellites orbiting the planet. However, they're as vulnerable as ever, too.

A 15 year old may have discovered a hidden Maya city by studying Maya constellations... or not

A teenager from Quebec might have discovered a hidden Maya city simply by looking at the stars.

'Second skin' hides signs of aging, while also improving skin health

Developed by researchers at MIT for over a decade, the 'second skin' is a transparent, silicone-based polymer that can be layered over the human skin. Flexible and strong, the novel material can return to its original size after being stretched to over 250%, which is actually better than human skin which can only stretch to 180%.

Nestlé wants to sell you diabetes pills alongside sugary snacks

Sweets as we know them wouldn’t exist without Nestle. The company revolutionized how we eat, they made sugar a vital part of any meal and to an extent, they made the world fatter. They sell in 189 out of the 195 sovereign states, they’re Europe’s biggest company and by far the biggest food company. Their […]

Weapons of math destruction: plane delayed because university professor was writing equations

No matter how bad you are at math, you should be able to recognize an equation when you see it, right? Well, that wasn’t the case for a passenger on the plane from Philadelphia to Ontario. This passenger saw a saw a man “suspiciously” writing down a complicated looking formula on a piece of paper and notified […]

NASA releases dozens of patents, making them free in the public domain

Hold my beer while I’m going to the Moon. In a move that could greatly benefit the space industry, as well as numerous companies, inventors and research labs, NASA just released 56 formerly patented agency technologies into the public domain, making their technology freely available and available for unrestricted commercial use. “By releasing this collection into […]

British energy expert: 'oil companies have 10 years to change strategy or die'

One energy expert from the U.K. made headlines with his bold comments. He says oil companies have only 10 years to adapt and make a shift away from fossil fuels -- their primary business, after all -- otherwise these will collapse. The market will not be forgiving.

There are only 10 Royal Cambodian Turtles left in the wild

Conservation efforts have failed dramatically as this emblematic species comes closer to extinction. Four years ago, there were an estimated 200 southern river terrapins (Batagur affinis edwardmolli), or Royal Cambodian Turtles in the wild. Now, it seems the population has dwindled down by 95%, as just 10 remain in the wild. The news comes just 16 […]

If you're left-handed, you may be a bit better at math

If you’re left-handed, some of the simplest and most mundane things can be an ordeal. Scissors are awful, musical instruments are a drag and house appliances can be quite challenging. But according to a new study, being a leftie is associated with better math skills, at least for teenage boys. The link between handedness was […]

This robot sutures surgical incisions like a STAR: it's better than doctors

Thanks to robots, surgery has gone a long way since these have been introduced in the '80s making operations safer and less invasive. Now, surgical robots are starting to migrate from assistant to leading roles, which is where experts say they will really shine.

Pluto is much more planet-like than we give it credit for

Despite its demotion from the planet status, Pluto continues to surprise us. As we receive more and more information from the Deep Horizons mission, we’re understanding more and more what a complex system Pluto really is – just like a planet. The latest example comes in the form of an unexpected interaction with the solar […]

Are jetpacks finally taking off into the mainstream?

A Shenzhen startup has received 200 orders for the Martin Jetpack, what they call "the world's first practical and commercial jetpack".

New packaging keeps food fresh way longer, without any plastic

The unlikely ally is silk.

NASA releases first ever topographic model of Mercury [the planet]

NASA just released the first ever topographic model of Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun.

Reddit analysis proves Godwin's law

"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1".

Medical errors ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States

When researchers at John Hopkins factored human errors they found this was the third leading cause of death in the United States, surpassing respiratory diseases.

Why there are only three dimensions in this reality

By all account, we can only perceive three spatial dimensions: width, length and height. Everything seems more vibrant and 'real' in 3-D, compared to 2-D, but one can only wonder what things must look in four dimensions. Alas, our brains simply can't fathom a four-dimensional universe, let alone a 99-dimension universe. Moreover, it seems our Universe simply can't host more than three dimensions due to the laws of thermodynamics, physicists say.

Left-handed males have better math skills

Being left-handed isn't easy in a right-handed world. Let me tell you, though, at least you're better at math!

Gecko feet may help keep art clean

Geckos may be giving art conservationists an unexpected hand – a new way of keeping art clean. This doesn’t mean we’ll be letting hordes of geckos run rampant through the Louvre because that’s not how science works (though it could create a lovely Disney scene). Instead, researchers took inspiration from geckos, designing a material that […]

World's largest indoor vertical farm is being built just 45 minutes away from Manhattan

A company called Aerofarms is trying to change the way we grow our vegetables in cities

Japan has more electric car charging stations than gas stations

While most of the world is sluggish about EVs, Japan seems to be light years ahead. The island state's pro-electric car incentives have paid off and it's never been easier for a Japanese to drive an electric car. Officially, there are now more charging stations than gas stations in the country.

Google seems to want to build a city 'from the internet up'

There are Google self-driving cars, Google-made phones and notebooks, and soon there might also a be a Google city.

How will Elon Musk honor half a million Tesla Model 3 pre-orders?

A lot of car makers are definitely jealous of Elon Musk and his success, but how many would actually want to be in his shoes right now?

Scientists find surprising species of jellyfish near the Mariana Trench

This mesmerizing jellyfish almost looks photoshopped - but it's as real as it gets.

Designers unveil world's first 3D printed consumer wheelchair

Design studio Layer just unveiled their vision for a 3D printed wheelchair which promises to significantly improve the quality of life of users

There's a one in 10 billion trillion chance humanity is the only advanced life in the Universe

There are as many as 400 billion stars in the Milky Way alone. In this sea of light, it seems inevitable that life must have evolved on some alien planets.

It happened: U.S. Government wants to resettle the first American climate change refugees

The Isle de Jean Charles that lies on the Gulf coast of Louisiana is sinking. In less than 70 years, over the 90 percent of its landmass has washed away from erosion triggered by industry, as well public works which redirected rivers. Then there were the hurricanes.

You can now tinker around with IBM's quantum computers - straight from your couch

Quantum computing is still in its infancy, but you can test drive it yourself thanks to IBM.

Scientists image chemical reactions to improve industrial chemistry

It can be quite difficult to visualize chemical reactions in real life, but modern science is here to help us once again

Mysterious dark streaks on Mars were actually made by BOILING water

Here's something you'd never expect to happen in a place with average temperatures of -67 degrees Fahrenheit -- Mars' flowing water is boiling!

A trillion species on Earth? 99.999% species of microbes remain undiscovered, scientists say

Microbes make up the vast majority of Earth's species but we're still clueless when it comes to identifying them

Why you should microwave your sponges, according to science

The best way to keep your sponges clean is to microwave them.

The price of solar keeps falling, Dubai received the lowest ever asking bid for energy

A few days ago, India's Energy Minister Piyush Goyal announced that solar energy became cheaper to produce than coal-powered, costing roughly 6 US cents/kWh. Now, it's become even cheaper: the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) received the lowest ever asking price for solar energy, at US 2.99 cents/kWh.
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