Shipwreck ecology: Sunken vessels are a scientific treasure

In a newly published article in BioScience, scientists from NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), joined by an international team of ecologists and archaeologists, describe how shipwrecks provide a unique opportunity to study complex ecological processes. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Meet Ecuador's two newest tarantula species, just discovered and already facing imminent threats

In the depths of Ecuador's wilderness, scientists have unveiled the presence of two new tarantula species. Researchers of Universidad San Francisco de Quito found them on trees on the slopes of the Andes in the western part of the country. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Two recent studies expand understanding of how early social housing helps dairy calves thrive

Dairy industry professionals continuously work to ensure the highest possible welfare for dairy calves, including fine-tuning their housing to improve overall health, well-being, and performance. Two new studies in JDS Communications are illuminating our understanding of paired h … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

New nuclear deflection simulations advance planetary defense against asteroid threats

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed a modeling tool for assessing the potential use of a nuclear device to defend the planet against catastrophic asteroid impacts. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Combining atomistic simulations and machine learning to predict grain boundary segregation in magnesium alloys

Magnesium alloys hold promise as a lightweight material to reduce weight in automobiles and transportation systems, offering potential to enhance fuel economy and reduce emissions, but low formability and strength prevent widespread adoption. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

New study explores gender gaps in career paths

A recent study out of Michigan State University found significant variations in career interests between men and women. Surprisingly, even with these interest differences, gender gaps in career opportunities are more substantial than anticipated. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

NGC 2264: Telescopes illuminate 'Christmas tree cluster'

This new image of NGC 2264, also known as the "Christmas Tree Cluster," shows the shape of a cosmic tree with the glow of stellar lights. NGC 2264 is, in fact, a cluster of young stars—with ages between about one and five million years old—in our Milky Way about 2,500 light-years … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

New study explores amino acid that turns into gel in water

Hydrogels, ubiquitous materials in our daily lives, are the focus of scientific research published in Chemistry—A European Journal. Conducted by the SupraBioNanoLab at the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta at Politecnico di Milano, the work … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Scanner data can help New York state farmers boost market sales

Julie and Steve Rockcastle, founders of Green Heron Growers in New York's Cattaraugus County, are always trying to figure out what works and what doesn't when it comes to selling their grass-fed beef at farmers markets. So after a Cornell study showed them that customers spent le … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers identify protein with DYRK1A-inhibiting effect that may have implications for Down syndrome

Down syndrome, a congenital disorder stemming from abnormal cell division and differentiation, is most common in newborns fated to neurodevelopmental delays and other health complications. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Low economic growth can help keep climate change within the 1.5°C threshold, says study

A new study shows that economic growth rates make a big difference when it comes to prospects for limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as per the Paris Agreement. A recent study by the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA- … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

AI models predict decay modes and half-lives of superheavy nuclei with unprecedented accuracy

In a study published in the journal of Nuclear Science and Techniques, researchers from Sun Yat-sen University have achieved a significant breakthrough in understanding the decay processes of superheavy nuclei. Their pioneering study, employing a random forest machine learning al … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Mollusks from polar expeditions reveal new details about the ocean

In the early hours of 30 October 1961, a Russian bomber took off and flew north. The plane was headed for the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Russian part of the Arctic. When the pilot saw the islands far below, he released the cargo—a bomb the size of a double-decker bus. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

New research models critical climate collapse conditions in ecological and biological systems

As humans continue to drive environmental damage through climate change, predicting points of no return becomes more crucial than ever. Worldwide, humanity and nature alike contend with increases in temperature, drought, wildfires, hurricanes, rising sea levels and more. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Q&A: Meaningful social interactions are the only 'cure' for loneliness

'Tis the season for friends and family, which could be crucial for combating loneliness, but one Western researcher says we should strive to maintain social connections at all times of the year. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Uncovering the 150-year history of Japanese beer barley breeding

Barley is a staple crop with several applications, acting as a source of food, livestock feed, and an ingredient for malt brewing. Originally disseminated from China and the Korean Peninsula about 2,000 years ago, all Japanese barley cultivars were six-row for human food until th … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Bolivia's hypergravity blood cell test for astronaut health

The latest international group to employ ESA's hypergravity-generating Large Diameter Centrifuge is an all-female team from Bolivia, with access sponsored by the United Nations and ESA. The researchers are investigating whether the high gravity levels experienced during rocket la … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Nanoparticles with antibacterial action could shorten duration of tuberculosis treatment

A low-cost technology involving nanoparticles loaded with antibiotics and other antimicrobial compounds that can be used in multiple attacks on infections by the bacterium responsible for most cases of tuberculosis has been developed by researchers at São Paulo State University ( … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

The holographic secret of black holes

As weird as it might sound, black holes appear to be holograms. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Fact checkers tend to agree on validity of news claims, researchers say

The use of fact-checking services spikes during major news events. Fortunately, the fact checkers have generally agreed in their assessments of whether news claims are true or false, according to researchers from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Astrophysicists publish Kepler Giant Planet Search, an aid to 'figure out where to find life'

A team of astrophysicists led by Lauren Weiss, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Notre Dame, created the first-ever catalog of small, Earth-like planets with Jupiter-like siblings (planets that share the same star)—a critical comp … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study finds fires of war overtook climate-controlled fires along the eastern Silk Road

Human activities such as intentional burning, agriculture, pastoralism, and metallurgy can affect the frequency of fire in an ecosystem. Guanghui Dong, Aifeng Zhou and colleagues investigated whether another typical human activity has influenced fire history in the areas along th … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Hera's solar wings are cleared for flight

The solar wings that will power ESA's Hera asteroid mission for planetary defense as it ventures out to meet the Dimorphos asteroid have been cleared for flight. As part of its current test campaign at ESA's ESTEC Test Center in the Netherlands, the spacecraft commanded the deplo … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study finds pandas are more socially active than previously thought

Pandas, long portrayed as solitary beasts, do hang with family and friends—and they're big users of social media. Scent-marking trees serve as a panda version of Facebook. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

'Molecular jackhammers' can rupture melanoma cells' membrane, study shows

The Beach Boys' iconic hit single "Good Vibrations" takes on a whole new layer of meaning thanks to a recent discovery by Rice University scientists and collaborators, who have uncovered a way to destroy cancer cells by using the ability of some molecules to vibrate strongly when … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Toxic chemicals found in oil spills and wildfire smoke detected in killer whales

Toxic chemicals produced from oil emissions and wildfire smoke have been found in muscle and liver samples from Southern Resident killer whales and Bigg's killer whales. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Research suggests women lose more muscle than men in spaceflight

New research published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggests women lose more muscle than men in a microgravity environment such as spaceflight. The study "represent[s] the longest bed rest study on a large cohort of women" and underscores the need for more … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

World can't rely on tree planting to limit climate change, says report

Little consideration has been given by the IPCC to the feasibility of schemes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—despite many countries banking on it as part of their net zero plans. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Astronomers scan hundreds of stars for 'anomalous transits'

Telescopes have been collecting copious amounts of data on exoplanets in recent years. One of the most common datasets tracks what are known as transits, when an exoplanet crosses in front of its host star and dims the star's light slightly as it does so. The majority of exoplane … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Electrocatalytic CO₂ conversion advancing toward large-scale deployment

Global CO2 emissions continue to grow, reaching 36.1 Gt in 2022, stimulating the implementation of carbon taxes and impacting energy use. The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to produce high value-added chemicals and liquid fuels contributes to the construction of … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Chilean researchers call for transformative change to tackle climate action

Addressing climate change has become a central issue in Chile's public policy. As part of that debate, Dr. Maisa Rojas, researcher in Atmospheric Physics, who currently serves as Chilean Minister for Environment and Marco Billi of the Center for Climate and Resilience Research, U … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

A new system can help global food systems adapt to climate change

One critical outcome of COP28 was a declaration, signed by more than 150 heads of state, to support food systems in adapting to climate change. Until recently, the issue of sustainable food systems had never risen very high on the COP agenda, which had been largely focused on the … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Research team develops optical technique for simultaneously producing and shaping gigahertz burst pulses

The generation and manipulation of high-repetition pulses hold great promise across various applications, including high-speed photography, laser processing, and acoustic wave generation. Gigahertz (GHz) burst pulses, with intervals ranging from ~0.01 to ~10 nanoseconds, are part … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers: Planting pine or native forest for carbon capture isn't the only choice—New Zealand can have best of both

New Zealand's per-capita contribution to carbon emissions is very high by international comparison. But so too is its potential to mitigate climate change by planting forests to quickly sequester large amounts of carbon. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers discover crucial step in creating blood stem cells

A microbial sensor that helps identify and fight bacterial infections also plays a key role in the development of blood stem cells, providing a valuable new insight in the effort to create patient-derived blood stem cells that could eliminate the need for bone marrow transplants. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

High mitochondrial temperature is maintained in cells subjected to metabolic stress, study shows

Mitochondria in human and mammalian cells are maintained at around 52 ºC, significantly warmer than the cell's external environment. A new study shows that even under external metabolic stresses, mitochondrial metabolism is remodeled to maintain this high temperature. The finding … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Filming the microscopic flow of hydrogen atoms in a metal

A group of researchers has created a simple and inexpensive means to visualize the atomic state of hydrogen. Details of their breakthrough are published in the journal Acta Materialia. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Fresh research for fresh air: Harnessing microbes for removing indoor pollutants

Researchers in Chile have designed an indoor air purification prototype which uses microorganisms to capture and degrade pollutants, with efficiencies above 90%. In the study, published in the Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, the scientists demonstrated that the … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Selling time, function rather than a product may not always be sustainable

In the current business-to-business (B2B) landscape, servicizing products—a leasing model that often includes remanufacturing—rather than selling them, marks a shift toward a new model of consumption that focuses on sustainability. However, a Penn State Smeal College of Business … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Do dog 'talking buttons' actually work? Does my dog understand me? Here's what the science says

Is your dog bothered by something but you can't work out what? Do you wish they could tell you? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Florida Keys city to replace sewage wells following research findings

The Marathon City Council says it will end the use of shallow sewage wells, a move that could drastically reduce the pervasive pharmaceutical contamination in local fish populations uncovered by FIU scientists. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Can we decode the language of our primate cousins?

A UNIGE team shows that the human brain is capable of identifying the vocalizations of certain primate species, if they are close to us and if the frequencies used are also close to our own. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

NASA's GUSTO prepares to map space between the stars

On a vast ice sheet in Antarctica, scientists and engineers are preparing a NASA experiment called GUSTO to explore the universe on a balloon. GUSTO will launch from the Ross Ice Shelf, near the U.S. National Science Foundation's McMurdo Station research base, no earlier than Dec … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Shining a light on NASA's deep space demo

NASA's Psyche mission launched on 13 October 2023 on a journey to explore what could be the exposed metallic core of an ancient planet. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Image: Ice flows on Mars

On Aug. 18, 2023, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured ridged lines carved onto Mars' landscape by the gradual movement of ice. While surface ice deposits are mostly limited to Mars' polar caps, these patterns appear in many non-polar Martian regions. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Iceland volcano eruption calms as lava flow eases

An Icelandic volcano that erupted and spewed lava into the sky overnight near a power plant was less active Tuesday, after weeks of intense seismic activity southwest of Reykjavik. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Will the eruption of the volcano in Iceland affect flights and how serious is it?

Scientists anticipated the eruption of a volcano in southwestern Iceland for weeks, so when it happened on Monday night, it was no surprise. The region had been active for more than two years and thousands of small earthquakes rattled the area in recent weeks. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Blue Origin returns to space after yearlong hiatus

Blue Origin launched its first rocket in more than a year on Tuesday, reviving the US company's fortunes with a successful return to space following an uncrewed crash in 2022. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago