https://www.zmescience.com/ Enriching Science Journalism Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:24:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-logo-zmescience-32x32.png https://www.zmescience.com/ 32 32 https://www.zmescience.com/other/offbeat-other/identical-twins-genetic-alibi/ https://www.zmescience.com/other/offbeat-other/identical-twins-genetic-alibi/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:24:44 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311087 There was a time when criminals with identical twins could commit serious crimes and still get away with them.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/other/offbeat-other/identical-twins-genetic-alibi/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/dna-helices-zip-together/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/dna-helices-zip-together/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:24:23 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311115 Metal ions may help DNA molecules overcome their mutual electrical repulsion.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/dna-helices-zip-together/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ocean-thermal-conversion-india/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ocean-thermal-conversion-india/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:56:24 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311107 India’s Lakshadweep project could show whether ocean heat can deliver reliable power and fresh water.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ocean-thermal-conversion-india/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/why-chiles-2000-year-old-alerce-trees-have-become-magnets-for-underground-fungi/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/why-chiles-2000-year-old-alerce-trees-have-become-magnets-for-underground-fungi/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:19:04 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=310994 The loss of one ancient Alerce tree could wipe out centuries of fungal diversity.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/why-chiles-2000-year-old-alerce-trees-have-become-magnets-for-underground-fungi/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/nordic-countries-no-word-for-please/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/nordic-countries-no-word-for-please/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:16:18 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311081 Politeness survives perfectly well without the so-called 'magic word'.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/nordic-countries-no-word-for-please/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/underwater-solar-panels-china/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/underwater-solar-panels-china/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=310964 The cells exploit the narrow slice of sunlight that survives beneath the sea.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/underwater-solar-panels-china/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/racoons-make-toys/ https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/racoons-make-toys/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:25:30 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311021 Two young raccoons turned discarded paper into balls.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/racoons-make-toys/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/earliest-human-drug-use-ever-found/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/earliest-human-drug-use-ever-found/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:58:28 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311032 Researchers found evidence that Ice Age foragers were sucking psychoactive betel nuts 25,000 years ago.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/earliest-human-drug-use-ever-found/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/western-roman-empire-collapse-what-went-next/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/western-roman-empire-collapse-what-went-next/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:37:00 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=303546 Ancient DNA suggests Rome’s fall reshaped Europe through gradual migration and intermarriage, not a sudden barbarian takeover.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/western-roman-empire-collapse-what-went-next/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/tattoo-associated-uveitis-rep2/ https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/tattoo-associated-uveitis-rep2/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:33:00 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=299309 A rare inflammatory condition linked to tattoos is appearing more often in Australia.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/tattoo-associated-uveitis-rep2/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/california-just-changed-the-rules-for-replacement-tires-and-it-could-save-drivers-1-billion-a-year/ https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/california-just-changed-the-rules-for-replacement-tires-and-it-could-save-drivers-1-billion-a-year/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:28:55 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311061 The nation’s first tire efficiency standards target an overlooked drag on fuel economy that can cost drivers more at the pump. ]]> https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/california-just-changed-the-rules-for-replacement-tires-and-it-could-save-drivers-1-billion-a-year/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/if-your-windshield-seems-cleaner-than-it-used-to-be-scientists-say-that-could-be-a-very-bad-sign-for-insects/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/if-your-windshield-seems-cleaner-than-it-used-to-be-scientists-say-that-could-be-a-very-bad-sign-for-insects/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:18:21 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311056 Insects are under threat partly because of man-made climate change, heatwaves and intensive farming.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/if-your-windshield-seems-cleaner-than-it-used-to-be-scientists-say-that-could-be-a-very-bad-sign-for-insects/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/could-yeast-help-build-3d-printed-habitats-on-mars-scientists-are-testing-the-recipe/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/could-yeast-help-build-3d-printed-habitats-on-mars-scientists-are-testing-the-recipe/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:06:33 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=310949 A yeast-based material turns Mars’s hostile environment into part of the construction process.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/could-yeast-help-build-3d-printed-habitats-on-mars-scientists-are-testing-the-recipe/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/space/china-could-beat-the-us-to-mars-samples-and-trigger-a-new-sputnik-moment/ https://www.zmescience.com/space/china-could-beat-the-us-to-mars-samples-and-trigger-a-new-sputnik-moment/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:51:54 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311010 This could be another Sputnik moment. Only this time the finger is pointed at China instead of the USSR.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/space/china-could-beat-the-us-to-mars-samples-and-trigger-a-new-sputnik-moment/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/warning-self-improving-ai/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/warning-self-improving-ai/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:20:34 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=310999 AI insiders are warning that the race toward self-improving systems is outrunning efforts to control them.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/warning-self-improving-ai/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/love-your-tea-or-coffee-scalding-hot-a-huge-study-has-a-warning/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/love-your-tea-or-coffee-scalding-hot-a-huge-study-has-a-warning/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:05:02 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=311011 It's not what you're drinking; it's how hot it is.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/love-your-tea-or-coffee-scalding-hot-a-huge-study-has-a-warning/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/anthropology/first-denisovan-arm-bone/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/anthropology/first-denisovan-arm-bone/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:01:22 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=310998 New fossils, tools and butchered bones put an elusive human lineage into everyday life.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/anthropology/first-denisovan-arm-bone/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/superionic-ice-2000-deg-c/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/superionic-ice-2000-deg-c/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:56:15 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=310948 The researchers squeezed water to millions of atmospheres and discovered a bizarre new form of ice.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/superionic-ice-2000-deg-c/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/wooly-dog-pelt-british-columbia/ https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/wooly-dog-pelt-british-columbia/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:49:04 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=310960 This extinct dog was raised for its wool and its only known pelt has finally returned to canada.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/wooly-dog-pelt-british-columbia/feed/ 0 https://www.zmescience.com/future/anthropic-economy-us-forecast/ https://www.zmescience.com/future/anthropic-economy-us-forecast/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:27:15 +0000 https://www.zmescience.com/?p=310953 AI could supercharge growth while pushing income from white-collar workers toward capital.]]> https://www.zmescience.com/future/anthropic-economy-us-forecast/feed/ 0