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ZME Science •

6 Adorable Sharks That Are Actually More Cute Than Scary

Sharks may be portrayed for their sharp teeth and fierce demeanor, but did you know that many species of sharks are also quite cute and relatively harmless? From their unique shapes to their charming faces, these sharks will win you over.


The blue shark is a slender, graceful shark with a striking blue coloration, making it one of the ocean’s most beautiful inhabitants. Their bodies are long and streamlined, designed for swift and efficient movement through the water. The vivid blue of their...
ZME Science •

What is Earth's closest black hole neighbor?

Contrary to what their name might imply, black holes aren’t just vast areas of nothingness. A black hole is an astronomical object whose gravitational pull is so strong that nothing can escape it, not even light. Known as the “event horizon,” the “surface” of a black hole marks the point where the speed required to escape is faster than the speed of light. Once radiation and matter are in, they’re in it for the long haul.

But how close is the nearest one to Earth (that we know of)? It turns out
ZME Science •

Where is the coldest place in the universe, according to experts

It was 1980 at the Siding Spring Observatory — just outside Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia — when Keith Taylor and Mike Scarrott first discovered one of the most stunning nebulas in the history of astronomy. Due to telescopic limitations at the time, the astronomers saw merely a slight asymmetry in its lobes suggesting a curved shape like a boomerang. From this, the object got its fitting name, the Boomerang Nebula. But little did the researchers know there was much more to their disc
ZME Science •

Yes, the Moon does have a (ghostly thin) atmosphere -- and it was made possible by meteorite impacts

Ever wondered if the moon has an atmosphere? Surprisingly, it does, but it’s nothing like Earth’s. According to recent research, it’s actually extremely thin and almost ghost-like.


Published in Science Advances, the study reveals that the Moon’s atmosphere, known as an “exosphere,” is primarily sustained by meteorite impacts and has been around for billions of years. These impacts have been occurring since the Moon’s formation, vaporizing parts of its surface and creating this weak atmosphere...
ZME Science •

Inside the Plan to Freeze and Store Cells From Endangered Species on the Moon As a Lifeboat Against Extinction

With numerous species facing extinction, an international team of researchers has proposed a radical solution to protect the planet’s biodiversity: a lunar biorepository. This concept, detailed in BioScience, aims to create a passive, long-lasting storage facility for cryopreserved samples of Earth’s most at-risk animal species.


Led by Mary Hagedorn of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, the team envisions leveraging the Moon’s naturally cold temperatures. The M...
ZME Science •

Not the Onion: Scientists find Brazilian sharks on cocaine

No, Cocaine Shark is not a sequel to the recent Cocaine Bear movie (based on a true story). It is, however, a real thing.


Researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation recently detected cocaine in Brazilian sharpnose sharks living off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. This marks the first instance of the drug being found in free-ranging sharks, raising concerns about the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems.


The study tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks and discovered cocaine in both...
ZME Science •

Most Drugs Meant for Astronauts Expire Before Trip to Mars Ends, Scientists Say

As space agencies target Mars, one critical challenge is the limited shelf-life of medications. A recent study by Duke University School of Medicine reveals that more than half of the medications currently stocked for space missions would expire before a Mars mission concludes. This emphasizes the crucial demand for strategies to safeguard astronauts’ health during prolonged space journeys.


The study highlights a major hurdle for space exploration. Drugs like pain relievers, antibiotics, alle...
ZME Science •

11 Extraordinary Sharks That Live in Deep Sea Waters

When we think of sharks, we usually think of great whites, speedy makos, and the sleek blue shark. These popular Shark Week stars, with their streamlined bodies and blueish-grey hues, are built for speed and stealth in open waters. But let’s dive deeper. Far beneath the surface, in the depths of the ocean, live sharks that few have seen and even fewer understand.


Sharks are masters of adaptation, perfectly designed for their environments. Near the surface, our well-known pelagic sharks domina...
ZME Science •

Pompeii’s Double Tragedy: Earthquakes Struck Alongside Volcanic Inferno

Almost 2,000 years after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, new discoveries are reshaping our understanding of the event’s full impact. Recently, scientists unearthed two skeletons in the ruins of Pompeii suggesting earthquakes may have significantly compounded the deadly effects of the volcanic eruption.


A team of researchers from the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and Pompeii Archaeological Park found two male skeletons, approximately 50 years old,...
ZME Science •

Food in space tastes really bad. Scientists use virtual reality simulation to find out why

Not all foods taste the same in space as on Earth. A team of scientists from RMIT University is working to change that. The group recently published a study examining how the smell of food changes in space-like environments. Their findings could help improve astronauts’ diets. It could also benefit individuals in isolated conditions on Earth, such as nursing home residents.


“One of the long-term aims of the research is to make better-tailored foods for astronauts, as well as other people who...
ZME Science •

Meet 11 Amazing Deep-Sea Sharks From the Abyss

When we think of sharks, we usually think of great whites, speedy makos, and the sleek blue shark. These popular Shark Week stars, with their streamlined bodies and blueish-grey hues, are built for speed and stealth in open waters. But let’s dive deeper. Far beneath the surface, in the depths of the ocean, live sharks that few have seen and even fewer understand.


Sharks are masters of adaptation, perfectly designed for their environments. Near the surface, our well-known pelagic sharks domina...
ZME Science •

6 Adorable Sharks That Are Actually More Cute Than Scary

Sharks may be portrayed for their sharp teeth and fierce demeanor, but did you know that many species of sharks are also quite cute and relatively harmless? From their unique shapes to their charming faces, these sharks will win you over.


The blue shark is a slender, graceful shark with a striking blue coloration, making it one of the ocean’s most beautiful inhabitants. Their bodies are long and streamlined, designed for swift and efficient movement through the water. The vivid blue of their...
ZME Science •

Discovering new anti-aging secrets from the world's longest-living vertebrate

The average human lifespan is around 73.4 years. The Greenland shark’s potential lifespan surpasses 500 years, making that number seem pretty insignificant by comparison. These sharks, which inhabit the cold depths of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, can live longer than any known vertebrate species. Looking at that number, the oldest Greenland sharks were alive when Galileo made his first telescope. Some could have even been mere pups when Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.


It turns out that the...
ZME Science •

This tiny desert moss could be key to terraforming Mars

A resilient desert moss, Syntrichia caninervis, might be an ideal pioneer plant for Mars colonization. This tiny, but tough plant has shown an impressive ability to survive in some of the harshest conditions imaginable. This makes it a promising candidate for future space missions aimed at creating habitable environments on other planets.

S. caninervis is a common moss species found in extreme desert environments around the world, including places like Tibet, Antarctica, and the polar regions.
ZME Science •

Wild chimpanzees use medicinal plants to treat ailments

In Uganda’s Budongo Central Forest Reserve, chimpanzees have been observed engaging in something intriguing: consuming specific plants with medicinal properties to treat ailments. The multi-organizational study, published in PLOS ONE combined chimpanzee behavior observations with laboratory plant sample testing.

The researchers monitored 51 chimpanzees from two communities in the Budongo Forest, collecting plant samples from 13 different species. These samples were then tested for their antibac
ZME Science •

Archaeologists find 29 bottles of 250-year-old cherries and berries in George Washington's cellar

A striking archaeological discovery at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate has unearthed 29 intact bottles of preserved cherries and berries, providing a rare glimpse into the food preservation practices of the 18th century. The find, announced by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, offers new insights into the domestic life of America’s first president.

The discovery occurred during the three-year, $40-million Mansion Revitalization Project, which began in 2023. Archaeologists excavating
ZME Science •

Astronomers witness real-time awakening of a massive black hole

Astronomers have recently observed an extraordinary event: the real-time awakening of a massive black hole in a distant galaxy. This rare phenomenon occurred in galaxy SDSS1335+0728, about 300 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Before 2019, this galaxy seemed quite ordinary. However, it suddenly began to glow brightly, catching the attention of scientists around the world.

In December 2019, the core of SDSS1335+0728 started to show dramatic changes in brightness, suggesting th
ZME Science •

Satellite “megaconstellations” may jeopardize recovery of the ozone hole

When internet-providing satellites — now being launched by the thousands — reach the end of their life, the byproducts of their fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere catalyze chemical reactions that destroy stratospheric ozone.

So while companies like SpaceX are launching thousands of small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the race to provide global internet coverage, this is creating a new problem. A new study published in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters suggests that in t
ZME Science •

A bunch of baby stars are orbiting around the black hole at the center of our galaxy

Astronomers cooperating on a multi-university study have made a fascinating discovery: a group of young stellar objects (YSOs) orbiting the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) at the center of our galaxy. These young stars, along with the already known S-type stars (an intermediate type of star), exhibit surprisingly organized behavior, challenging previous astronomical theories.

Approximately 30 years ago, astronomers identified a cluster of highly dynamic stars, known as S stars,
ZME Science •

Astronaut kidneys might not survive a mission to Mars

As humanity prepares for manned missions to Mars, a new study led by University College London (UCL) reveals a new potential health risk for astronauts. Published in Nature Communications, the study highlights the damaging effects of space travel on kidney health, with implications that could jeopardize the success of long-duration space missions.

Scientists from over 40 institutions across five continents conducted the most extensive analysis of kidney health during space flight to date. The s
ZME Science •

Once-in-a-lifetime nova explosion to light up the summer sky

This September, a rare celestial event will captivate astronomers and stargazers worldwide. The anticipated explosion of T Coronae Borealis, or the “Blaze Star,” will be visible to the naked eye from Earth.

T Coronae Borealis, also coined “T CrB” by astronomers, located in the Corona Borealis constellation, is about 3,000 light-years from Earth. This binary star system, consisting of a white dwarf and a red giant, experiences periodic nova explosions approximately every 80 years. The last recor
ZME Science •

93 Million Years Ago, Climate Change Turned Sharks into Open-Water Apex Predators

Modern sharks, those apex predators of the open ocean, might have actually evolved from bottom-dwellers during a significant episode of global warming millions of years ago. A new University of California, Riverside (UCR) study published in Current Biology has unveiled the adaptive fin morphology of sharks in response to historical climate changes.

Approximately 93 million years ago, massive volcanic eruptions released enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, creating a greenhouse climate that drama
ZME Science •

Martian meteorites reveal secrets of Red Planet's geological past

A new study could significantly advance astronomers’ understanding of the Red Planets’ geological past and the processes that shaped its surface. Researchers involved in the multi-university study discovered evidence of a heterogeneous mantle and crustal structure that formed during Mars’ early days. The findings suggest that Mars went through a period of intense volcanic activity that contributed to the planet’s unique geology.

Martian meteorites, rocks ejected from the surface of Mars that ha
ZME Science •

NASA's Lucy Uncovers a Tiny Asteroid with a Big Secret

A new study published in Nature reveals that NASA’s Lucy spacecraft has has made a remarkable discovery about a tiny asteroid named Dinkinesh. As Lucy flew past Dinkinesh, also known as “Dinky”, scientists found that this asteroid has a unique companion—a pair of small moons stuck together, known as a contact binary. This unexpected discovery provides new insights into how asteroids and other space objects form and change over time.

Dinkinesh is a small asteroid, approximately 2,362 feet (720 m
ZME Science •

Astronomers discover Earth-like planet Gliese 12 b: A new hotspot in the search for alien life

In an awakening study, astronomers have discovered an Earth-like exoplanet named Gliese 12 b, located just 40 light-years away in the constellation Pisces. This new find, orbiting a cool red dwarf star, could be one of the most promising candidates for future studies on habitability and the search for extraterrestrial life.

The planet is unique for several reasons. It’s comparable in size to Venus, slightly smaller than Earth, and has an estimated surface temperature of 107 Fahrenheit (42 Celsi
ZME Science •

Right again, Einstein: Astronomers unveil black hole's "waterfall" region

In a discovery aligning closely with Albert Einstein’s predictions, scientists have now observed what can best be described as the “waterfall” of space—a region where matter irrevocably plunges into the abyss of a black hole. This multi-university study was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and provides an interesting glimpse into one of the most mysterious aspects of black hole physics—the plunging region.

Einstein’s general relativity theory states particles c
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