Discovery reveals how a specialized structure in plant cells helps regulate photosynthesis

Purdue University scientists have discovered a key mechanism that regulates how plants develop chloroplasts, essential structures responsible for the photosynthesis that sustains life on Earth by producing oxygen and food. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

How calcium may have unlocked the origins of life's molecular asymmetry

A new study led by researchers at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at the Institute of Science, Tokyo, has uncovered a surprising role for calcium in shaping life's earliest molecular structures. Their findings suggest that calcium ions can selectively influence how primit … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Bizarre compounds of oxygen and carbon with explosive potential revealed

Skoltech researchers have theoretically investigated the wide range of molecules that oxygen and carbon atoms can form in addition to the well-known carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Compounds of oxygen and carbon are of interest for space research, battery technology, biochemi … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

The Airbnb transparency effect: The impact of pricing on consumer behavior

As cities like Las Vegas navigate the evolving short-term rental market and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cracks down on hidden fees, a new study from UNLV's Lee Business School dives into how Airbnb's pricing transparency—or the lack thereof—shapes consumer choices. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Happy dogs make happy humans, and 9 other reasons science says dogs need to chew

In the wild, dogs spend a lot of their time chewing on bones, carcasses, sticks and kernels. For example, Australian dingoes can feed for up to 108 minutes in a single session. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Beyond ambiguous reflections: Bridging optical 3D metrology and computer vision

Accurate and robust 3D imaging of specular, or mirror-like, surfaces is crucial in fields such as industrial inspection, medical imaging, virtual reality, and cultural heritage preservation. Yet anyone who has visited a house of mirrors at an amusement park knows how difficult it … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Terahertz imaging reveals new views of internal cochlea structure

For the first time, researchers have shown that terahertz imaging can be used to visualize internal details of the mouse cochlea with micron-level spatial resolution. The non-invasive method could open new possibilities for diagnosing hearing loss and other ear-related conditions … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Sowing the seeds of greater food diversity in Africa

Diversifying food sources and developing underused, nutrient-rich crops could help combat malnutrition and enhance food security in Africa. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Humans are bad at reading dogs' emotions—but we can learn to do better

A lot of dog owners believe that they can tell what their dogs are feeling. They believe that they can assess their dog's emotions no matter the context. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Nature's viny vampire: Discovering what drives parasitic Cuscuta campestris

The parasitic vine Cuscuta campestris grows by latching onto the stems and leaves of plants and inserting organs called haustorium into the host plant tissues to draw nutrients. The haustorium is formed when ion channels in the cell membrane are stimulated during coiling and indu … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Human urine, a valuable resource as fertilizer for sustainable urban agriculture

The reuse of human urine would allow for the production of sustainable fertilizers for urban agriculture, with significant environmental benefits. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Assumptions about genomic diversity may create conservation illusions of population health

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found that the critically endangered regent honeyeater faces hidden genetic risks while still retaining relatively high genetic diversity, risks that become apparent when combining genomic data across time with ecological modeling. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Conserving our cultural record is more important than ever, expert argues

We live in a world where misinformation spreads easily, deepfakes blur reality and political spin reshapes narratives. So, our ability to verify accurate information has never been more critical. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

New AI model can measure weed growth—here's how it could help ensure global food security

A new AI model has been developed that can quickly tell how much weeds have grown—and it could help ensure global food security by accelerating the development of next-generation herbicides. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Polymerlike worms wriggle their way through mazes

In a crowded room, we naturally move slower than in an empty space. Surprisingly, worms can show the exact opposite behavior: In an environment with randomly scattered obstacles, they tend to move faster when there are more obstructions. Viewing the worms as "active, polymerlike … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

New discovery promises to reveal hidden black holes across the universe

Scientists have detected radio signals from hot gas surrounding a supermassive black hole that existed 12.9 billion years ago, according to new research published in Nature Astronomy from an international team of scientists including researchers from The Australian National Unive … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Psychological implications and best practices for virtual communication in modern workflows

Despite the growth and popularity of remote work, companies and governments have increasingly been calling their employees back to the office in the past year, sometimes at the expense of significant declines in employee satisfaction. Return-to-office mandates are often based on … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Unlocking rice's yield potential: Trio of genes holds the key, study shows

A research team led by Dr. Li Yunhai from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has uncovered a novel genetic mechanism that controls grain size and yield in rice, offering promising strategies to enhance global food producti … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Four new gamma-ray millisecond pulsars discovered

An international team of astronomers reports the detection of four new gamma-ray millisecond pulsars using the Murriyang radio telescope at the Parkes Observatory in Australia. The discovery was detailed in a research paper published March 16 on the arXiv preprint server. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Fire fighting helicopter tackles Thailand blazes

A bright orange helicopter races over the jungle to dump water on a raging wildfire that is adding to the air pollution choking Thailand's northern tourist hub of Chiang Mai. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Fighting bacteria with viruses: Important step to treating antibiotic-resistant infections

New insights into a "friendly virus" that could pave the way for cutting-edge treatments for the potentially fatal superbug C. diff have been uncovered by University of Sheffield scientists. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Transistor reshapes electronic properties of a 2D material

A RIKEN study shows that squeezing the right amount of potassium ions between the atomic layers of molybdenum disulfide can turn it from a semiconductor into a metal, superconductor or insulator. The same layered material can be made to behave as a superconductor, metal, semicond … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Colorado's wolves expand their territory

Colorado's collared gray wolves continue to roam the state's northwest corner and central mountains as wildlife officials wait and watch for signs new pups might be born this spring. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Physics meets art: A new twist on interference patterns

One of the simplest and most beautiful naturally occurring patterns can be observed when light is shined through a pair of slightly misaligned periodic structures. This phenomenon, known as the moiré effect, is not only pretty to look at, but also has important consequences for t … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Physicists discover a copper-free high-temperature superconducting oxide

Professor Ariando and Dr. Stephen Lin Er Chow from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Physics have designed and synthesized a groundbreaking new material—a copper-free superconducting oxide—capable of superconducting at approximately 40 Kelvin (K), or about … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Even the common people drank wine in Troy

For the first time ever, a team of researchers has found chemical evidence that wine was actually drunk in Troy, verifying a conjecture of Heinrich Schliemann, who discovered the legendary fortress city in the 19th century. In addition, the researchers from the Universities of Tü … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Earth 1, asteroids 0: The next generation of planetary defense takes shape at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

There is a non-zero chance that somewhere in the nearby solar system is a rock that might kill us all. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Small star, mighty flares: ALMA shares new view of Proxima Centauri

At a distance of just over four light years, Proxima Centauri is our nearest stellar neighbor and is known to be a very active M dwarf star. Its flare activity has been well-known to astronomers using visible wavelengths of light, but a new study using observations with the Ataca … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Atmospheres of new planets might have unexpected mixtures of hydrogen and water

All planets are made of gas, ice, rock and metal, and models of how planets form usually assume that these materials don't react chemically with each other. But what if some of them do? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Study uncovers origin of the large neutron-capture cross section in ⁸⁸Zr using new methodology

Studies that explore how the denser sections of atoms, known as atomic nuclei, interact with neutrons (i.e., particles with no electric charge) can have valuable implications both for the understanding of these atoms' underlying physics and for the development of nuclear energy s … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Damaging cluster of UK winter storms driven by swirling polar vortex miles above Earth, scientists say

Powerful winter storms which led to deaths and power outages in the UK and Ireland were made more likely by an intense swirling vortex of winds miles above the Arctic, say scientists. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

DNA microscope creates 3D images of organisms from the inside out

Standard genetic sequencing approaches can tell you a lot about the genetic makeup and activity in a sample, like a piece of tissue or drop of blood. But they don't tell you where specific genetic sequences were located inside that sample, or their relationship to other genes and … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Losing forest carbon stocks could put climate goals out of reach, scientists warn

In the past, intact forests absorbed 7.8 billion metric tons of CO2 annually—about a fifth of all human emissions—but their carbon storage is increasingly at risk from climate change and human activities such as deforestation. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Q&A: What is the consumer price index? An economist explains

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the latest inflation report, based on the U.S. Department of Labor's consumer price index (CPI), on March 12. The monthly report tells consumers how much more expensive goods and services are, month-to-month and year-to-year. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Q&A: How to take a local business to global markets

Entering international markets can help a successful business grow even more. But when is the right time, and what are the steps? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

South Korea wildfires 'largest on record': disaster chief

Wildfires in South Korea are now the largest and deadliest on record, having burned more forest and killed more people than any previous blaze, officials said Thursday, as the death toll hit 27. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Ancient parasitic 'Venus flytrap' wasp preserved in amber reveals parasitoid strategies

An extinct lineage of parasitic wasps dating from the mid-Cretaceous period and preserved in amber may have used their Venus flytrap-like abdomen to capture and immobilize their prey. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Scientists uncover key mechanism in evolution: Whole-genome duplication drives long-term adaptation

Sometimes, the most significant scientific discoveries happen by accident. Scientists have long known that whole-genome duplication (WGD)—the process by which organisms copy all their genetic material—plays an important role in evolution. But understanding just how WGD arises, pe … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Developing a clearer understanding of permafrost thaw risk in Alaska

In the Arctic, permafrost plays a crucial role in building infrastructure. However, as the region warms and permafrost thaws, infrastructure is threatened as the ground shifts beneath the built environment. Unfortunately, the full extent of the risks associated with this process … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Better than the original: New SQL-based service offers tailored biodiversity data cubes for model integration

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) has enabled a simple, easy-to-use service for creating and downloading species occurrence cubes based on GBIF-mediated data. The service enables users to select their geographic, temporal and taxonomic dimensions of interest to … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Q&A: Researcher discusses elevated risk of extinction for over 22% of native North American pollinators

A new study led by NatureServe reveals that more than 22% of native pollinators in North America are at an elevated risk of extinction. This first-of-its-kind, taxonomically diverse assessment evaluated nearly 1,600 species—including bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, flower flie … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

X ad sales expected to grow for first time since Musk takeover

Elon Musk's X is on pace for its first year of advertising revenue growth since the billionaire acquired the company in 2022, according to research firm Emarketer—in part because advertisers are reacting to Musk's power in the Donald Trump administration. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

A homegrown player is worth an extra $4.8M annually to a National Hockey League team, says study

Everyone loves a hometown hero, and now, a new UBC Okanagan study has determined that having homegrown players on NHL teams is not only good for the fanbase, it's also good for the owner's wallet. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Reverse genetics system enhances vaccine development for African swine fever virus

Researchers from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) have developed a reverse genetics system for African swine fever virus (ASFV). This new system will aid researchers in developin … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Theoretical physicists completely determine the statistics of quantum entanglement

For the first time, theoretical physicists from the Institute of Theoretical Physics (IPhT) in Paris-Saclay have completely determined the statistics that can be generated by a system using quantum entanglement. This achievement paves the way for exhaustive test procedures for qu … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Participatory budgets and referendums can ease populist citizens' frustrations

"Angry" citizens often experience a lack of trust in politics and democracy. Governments are doing everything they can to involve this group in democracy again with referendums and participatory budgets. Research by Rosa Kindt shows that this is having an effect: these meetings p … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 days ago

Study identifies viruses in red tide blooms for the first time

A new study led by researchers at the University of South Florida shines light on the environmental drivers of red tide blooms. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 20 days ago

How cities can cut transportation emissions

It's an environmentalist's adage: think globally, act locally. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 20 days ago