Monetized evaluation of landscape resources of national parks based on the willingness to pay for market project

In China, national parks represent the country's most unique natural landscapes. Scientific evaluation of landscape resources is significant for preserving the authenticity and integrity of national parks. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Privatized moon landings: Two US missions set to open a new era of commercial lunar exploration

Two commercial spacecraft are scheduled to launch to the moon early in 2024 under a NASA initiative called the Commercial Lunar Payload Service CLPS. This program is intended to kickstart a commercial transportation service that can deliver NASA experiments and other payloads to … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Following mega swell and storms, clean up in Southern California underway

The big swells and high tides that battered the region for days have eased—but the aftermath and clean up since have kept crews busy along the coast. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Dating someone with a different mother tongue? Learning each other's language will enrich your relationship

Are you in a relationship with someone who grew up speaking a different language to you? Perhaps you're dating, and wondering about your long-term future. You're far from alone. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

The meat and dairy industry is not 'climate neutral,' despite some eye-catching claims

Imagine a house is on fire, and someone is actively pouring gas on the fire. They then pour a little less gas and want credit for doing so, despite still feeding the fire. Perhaps they claim they are now "fire neutral." | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

How effective is fear as a teaching tool? How and what do we learn when we are scared?

Many of us remember vividly being yelled at or feeling threatened by a family member, a teacher, or a boss. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Are catnip and treats like it safe for cats? Here's how they affect their minds and moods

Cats kept indoors can live a good life when they get access to a variety of positive experiences. Examples include performing natural behaviors, feeling safe at home and using their full sensory capabilities, including their sense of smell. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Language-related misunderstanding at work: What it is, why it occurs and what organizations can do about it

Language is the foundation of human interaction. It plays a central role in facilitating effective communication by allowing people to express their thoughts, share essential information and establish connections with one another. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

How big data transforms the insurance sector

In 2022, the insurance industry made a whopping USD 6 trillion globally—more than the entire economy of big countries like Japan and Germany. A recent study, published in The Journal of Finance and Data Science, looked at how technology, especially big data, is shaking things up … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Research shows advisability of replanting conifer forests sooner rather than later after wildfires

Warmer and drier climate conditions in western U.S. forests are making it less likely that trees can regenerate after wildfires. Scientists at The University of New Mexico are experimenting and learning about reforestation and the challenges presented by environmental factors in … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Magnetic fields in the cosmos: Dark matter could help us discover their origin

The mini-halos of dark matter scattered throughout the cosmos could function as highly sensitive probes of primordial magnetic fields. This is what emerges from a theoretical study conducted by SISSA and published in Physical Review Letters. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

On-demand conformation of an artificial cytoskeleton

Peptide nanotubes are tubular-shaped structures formed by the controlled stacking of cyclic peptide components. These hollow biomaterials show inner and outer faces, allowing control over their properties. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

How cells accurately assemble complex machinery

Proteins are the workhorses of the cell, carrying out functions to keep everything running smoothly. Some proteins work on their own, but in other cases many proteins assemble together to create a complex machine. These proteins are able to do more working cooperatively than they … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Cracking the secrets of virus 'uncoating' may help fight infections

Influenza and other viruses pack their genetic material into a protein shell, which must be disassembled for the viruses to efficiently replicate. But how viruses "uncoat" their genes remains largely unknown. Now, Friedrich Miescher Institute researchers have identified crucial f … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Microbial awakening restructures high-latitude food webs as permafrost thaws

Alaska is on the front lines of climate change, experiencing some of the fastest rates of warming of any place in the world. And when temperatures rise in the state's interior—a vast high-latitude region spanning 113 million acres—permafrost there not only thaws, releasing signif … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Non-toxic quantum dots pave the way towards CMOS shortwave infrared image sensors for consumer electronics

Invisible to our eyes, shortwave infrared (SWIR) light can enable unprecedented reliability, function and performance in high-volume, computer vision first applications in service robotics, automotive and consumer electronics markets. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Early primates likely lived in pairs, research suggests

Primate social organization is more flexible than previously assumed. According to a new study led by University of Zurich, the first primates probably lived in pairs, while only around 15% of individuals were solitary. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

A novel avenue for engineering 2D MXene family via precious metals atomic layer deposition techniques

A team of researchers, led by Professor Soo-Hyun Kim in the Graduate School of Semiconductors Materials and Devices Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UNIST has made significant progress in precisely controlling precious metals (Ru, Ir, Pt, Pd) … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Research finds climate-dependent dispersal limitation plays an important role in mountain soil microbiome

Microbial communities are highly diverse, yet the mechanisms underlying microbial community assembly are not well understood. In 1967, Daniel Janzen hypothesized that low climatic variability along elevational gradients results in greater constraints on animal migration and plant … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Iron snow ebb and flow may cause magnetic fields to come and go

Just as snow crystals form in the upper atmosphere, then fall to lower, warmer elevations and melt, scientists believe a phenomenon called iron snow happens in the molten iron cores of some planetary bodies. Cooling near the core-mantle boundary creates crystals of iron, which me … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Storm Henk causes flooding and travel disruption in UK

Hundreds of flood warnings were in place in the UK on Wednesday, after strong winds and rain lashed large parts of the country, hitting travel and cutting power. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers release initial dataset for protist genomes project

Protists, single-celled eukaryotic organisms encompassing unicellular algae and protozoans, inhabit aquatic environments. Functioning as primary producers and oxygen generators, they play crucial roles in the carbon cycle and serve as vital sources of human nutrition, bioenergy, … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Single-emitter super-resolved imaging of radiative decay rate enhancement in dielectric gap nanoantennas

In an era where understanding and manipulating light at the nanoscale is increasingly crucial, a paper in Light: Science & Applications reveals a significant leap forward. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

The use of deep learning for phase recovery

Light, as an electromagnetic field, has two essential components: amplitude and phase. However, optical detectors, usually relying on photon-to-electron conversion (such as charge-coupled device sensors and the human eye), cannot capture the phase of the light field because of th … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Greener and feasible production: Enzymatic methods for mono- and diacylglycerol synthesis in the food industry

MAGs, predominantly in 1(3)-MAG form, and DAGs, with 1,3-DAGs as the more stable isomer, are crucial in food, cosmetic, and other industries. While MAGs are vital emulsifiers, comprising 75% of global production, DAGs are known as functional cooking oils that can reduce body fat … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Developments in dual-atom catalysts make renewable energy sources more efficient

The rapidly developing field of green energy constantly seeks improvements, and recent advances in dual-atom catalysts hold the potential to revolutionize energy conversion technologies. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study demonstrates potency of synthetic antibiotic against serious chronic infections

A new synthetic antibiotic developed by University of Liverpool researchers is shown to be more effective than established drugs against "superbugs" such as MRSA, a new study shows. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Globular cluster VVV CL002 is falling down to the galactic center, study finds

Using the Magellan Clay telescope in Chile, astronomers have performed high-resolution spectroscopic observations of a galactic globular cluster known as VVV CL002. They found that the cluster is falling down to the Milky Way's center. The discovery was reported in a research pap … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

What makes urine yellow? Scientists discover the enzyme responsible

Researchers at the University of Maryland and National Institutes of Health have identified the microbial enzyme responsible for giving urine its yellow hue, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Microbiology. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Pathogenic bacteria use molecular 'shuttle services' to fill their injection apparatus with the right product

Disease-causing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Yersinia can use tiny injection apparatuses to inject harmful proteins into host cells, much to the discomfort of the infected person. However, it is not only with a view to controlling disease that researchers are investigating … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Fears in Wales over legacy of its coalmining past

It was nearly four years ago but the memory of the landslip that sent 60,000 tons of old mining debris sliding down a Welsh hillside still haunts former miner Jeff Coombes. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

New research shows 'juvenile' T. rex fossils are a distinct species of small tyrannosaur

A new analysis of fossils believed to be juveniles of T. rex now shows they were adults of a small tyrannosaur, with narrower jaws, longer legs, and bigger arms than T. rex. The species, Nanotyrannus lancensis, was first named decades ago but later reinterpreted as a young T. rex … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Using electricity, scientists find promising new method of boosting chemical reactions

As the world moves away from gas towards electricity as a greener power source, the to-do list goes beyond cars. The vast global manufacturing network that makes everything from our batteries to our fertilizers needs to flip the switch, too. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers propose 'RNAkine' nomenclature for naming extracellular ncRNAs

Throughout the history of RNA research, one can immediately notice a significant breakthrough during 2007 and 2008, in which several groups independently reported the discovery of intact noncoding RNA (ncRNA) sequences in extracellular space. Later on, the discovery of these extr … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

California singing fish's midbrain may serve as a model for how mammals control vocal expressions

For talkative midshipman fish—sometimes called the "California singing fish"—the midbrain plays a robust role in initiating and patterning trains of sounds used in vocal communication. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

How tomato plants use their roots to ration water during drought

Plants have to be flexible to survive environmental changes, and the adaptive methods they deploy must often be as changeable as the shifts in climate and condition to which they adapt. To cope with drought, plant roots produce a water-repellent polymer called suberin that blocks … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Targeted household cleaning can reduce toxic chemicals post-wildfire, research shows

After the last embers of a campfire dim, the musky smell of smoke remains. Whiffs of that distinct smokey smell may serve as a pleasant reminder of the evening prior, but in the wake of a wildfire, that smell comes with ongoing health risks. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Astrophysicists explore links between atmospheric oxygen and detecting extraterrestrial technology on distant planets

In the quest to understand the potential for life beyond Earth, researchers are widening their search to encompass not only biological markers, but also technological ones. While astrobiologists have long recognized the importance of oxygen for life as we know it, oxygen could al … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study: From NYC to DC and beyond, cities on the East Coast are sinking

Major cities on the U.S. Atlantic coast are sinking, in some cases as much as 5 millimeters per year—a decline at the ocean's edge that well outpaces global sea level rise, confirms new research from Virginia Tech and the U.S. Geological Survey. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Diversity of bioluminescent beetles in Brazilian savanna has declined sharply in 30 years, finds study

At night in the Cerrado, Brazil's savanna and second-largest biome, larvae of the click beetle Pyrearinus termitilluminans, which live in termite mounds, display green lanterns to capture prey attracted by the bright light. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

New mapping method illuminates druggable sites on proteins

Identifying new ways to target proteins involved in human diseases is a priority for many researchers around the world. However, discovering how to alter the function of these proteins can be difficult, especially in live cells. Now, scientists from Scripps Research have develope … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Evolution might stop humans from solving climate change, researchers say

Central features of human evolution may stop our species from resolving global environmental problems like climate change, says a recent study led by the University of Maine. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

The mighty coast redwoods are born to change. But can they evolve fast enough to survive climate warming?

Coast redwoods—enormous, spectacular trees, some reaching nearly 400 feet, the tallest plants on the planet—thrive mostly in a narrow strip of land in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Most of them grow from southern Oregon down into Northern California, snugged up agai … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Examining the effects of ultrasound-assisted fermentation on Chinese rice wine

Traditional Chinese rice wine (RW) has been popular in China for thousands of years. The brewing process involves simultaneous saccharification and solid-state fermentation using mixed saccharifying starters, such as wheat starter and distiller's yeast. However, the brewing mediu … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Switching to plant-based diets means cleaner air and could save more than 200,000 lives around the world, says study

Adopting a healthier diet will probably feature prominently in many of our New Year's resolutions. But it's often challenging for people to live up to their intentions. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

New alginate extraction method may help cultivated kelp be as good as wild kelp

Norway's exports products derived from from tangle kelp (Laminoria hyperborea) and knotted kelp (Ascophyllum nodosu) to the tune of more than NOK 1 billion a year. The industry mainly extracts alginate from kelp, which is used in over 600 different products as diverse as paint, s … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

India to study black holes with first satellite launch after US

India launched its first satellite on Monday to study black holes as it seeks to deepen its space exploration efforts ahead of an ambitious crewed mission next year. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

A noxious weed threatens the Connecticut River. Students created a device to join effort to eradicate it

The multimillion dollar threat to the lower Connecticut River from the invasive aquatic weed hydrilla has attracted attention from around the country, as scientists work on ways to contain it. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago