Positive tipping points must be triggered to solve climate crisis, say researchers

Positive tipping points must be triggered if we are to avoid the severe consequences of damaging Earth system tipping points, researchers say. With global warming on course to breach 1.5°C, at least five Earth system tipping points are likely to be triggered—and more could follow … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Coal use hits record in 2023, Earth's hottest year

Global consumption of coal reached an all-time high in 2023, the IEA energy watchdog said Friday, as Earth experienced its hottest recorded year. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Countries risk 'paying polluters' billions to regulate for climate: UN expert

An "explosion" of multibillion-dollar claims by fossil fuel and extractive firms through shadowy investment tribunals is blocking action on climate and nature, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and Environment has warned, with developing nations increasingly targeted. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Companies announce partnership to release dengue-fighting mosquitoes in the Caribbean

Two private companies announced Friday a partnership to release mosquitoes across the Caribbean bred with a bacterium that blocks the dengue virus as the region fights a record number of cases. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Biggest solar flare in years temporarily disrupts radio signals on Earth

A NASA telescope has captured the biggest solar flare in years, which temporarily knocked out radio communication on Earth. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Researchers develop new electrochemical chemosensor for fast, effective diagnosis of a lethal pulmonary disease

Patients struggling with some chronic diseases often must wait years for a proper diagnosis. For example, symptoms such as shortness of breath can be attributed to many pulmonary as well as cardiovascular disorders, so patients may be treated for a misdiagnosed disease that is fa … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New red galaxies turn out to be already known blue galaxies

Not all discoveries turn out to be actual new discoveries. This was the case for the extremely red objects (EROs) found in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data. Analysis shows that they are very similar to blue-excess dust obscured galaxies (BluDOGs) already reported in Subaru … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

CLOUD collaboration challenges current understanding of aerosol particle formation in polar and marine regions

Atmospheric aerosol particles exert a strong net cooling effect on the climate by making clouds brighter and more extensive, reflecting more sunlight back out to space. However, how aerosol particles form in the atmosphere remains poorly understood, especially in polar and marine … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

A new method for exploring the hyperpolarization of hydrogen

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful tool that is widely used in many scientific fields, from analytical chemistry to medical diagnostics. However, regardless of its widespread use, there are still areas in which this very informative method cannot be employed because i … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Discovery of two planetary systems around sun-like stars

A study published today (Dec. 15) in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics reveals the discovery of two new planetary systems orbiting stars similar to our sun, also known as solar analogs. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Researchers report the high-res structure of a little-known cyanobacterial virus

A research team at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has outlined the high-resolution structure of a little-known virus, improving our understanding of viral infection, which could pave the way for more accurate predictions of climate change. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Q&A: Bringing virtual reality to nuclear and particle physics

Virtual reality, or VR, is not just for fun-filled video games and other visual entertainment. This technology, involving a computer-generated environment with objects that seem real, has found many scientific and educational applications as well. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Researchers propose a framework for responsible stewardship over ultrathin materials research

To an everyday consumer, the best gadgets on the market have the highest speed, the largest memory, and the longest battery life. Chasing this demand, the forefront of research often only considers these tangible performance metrics when innovating and designing next-generation e … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Optogenetics study detects new acid sensor in plant cells

Using optogenetics, Würzburg researchers have detected a new acid sensor in plant cells that addresses a cell-internal calcium store. The study is published in the journal Science. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Scientists measure the distance to stars by their music

A team of astronomers has used asteroseismology, or the study of stellar oscillations, to accurately measure the distance of stars from the Earth. Their research examined thousands of stars and checked the measurements taken during the Gaia mission to study the near universe. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Scientists reveal VMAT2 transport and inhibition mechanisms using cryo-EM

Neurotransmitters are a class of signaling chemicals, including monoamines such as serotonin, dopamine, and histamine, which play a vital role in a variety of neurological activities, including mood, memory, growth and development, and drug addiction. The cytosolic neurotransmitt … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Simplifying the way cell proliferation is monitored in mice

Observing cell proliferation in living animals for a long period requires collecting and analyzing animal organs at multiple points in time. This cumbersome process requires an abundance of resources, including animals. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Climate change threatens a quarter of Australia's low-lying coral reef islands

University of Sydney researchers have found 25% of Australia's coral islands, land masses formed by reefs, currently face high to very high risk of being wiped out by climate change. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Scientists develop a polymer film inspired by spider silk to connect biological tissues with electronic devices

A team of materials scientists affiliated with several institutions in Singapore and China has developed a spider-silk-inspired polymer film that may be used to connect biological tissues with an electronic device. Their results are reported in the journal Nature. The editors at … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Squamates with horns more likely to take 'sit-and-wait' approach to hunting

An international research collaborative has found evidence showing that squamates (lizards and snakes) with horns are more likely to take a "sit-and-wait" approach to hunting than those without horns. In their project, reported in the journal Biology Letters, the group studied ne … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

A strategy to realize the efficient resonant absorption of guided water waves

The absorption of water waves is the process through which water waves lose their energy, thus reducing their impact on shores or other solid structures surrounding them. Enabling this absorption process in real-world settings could help protect coasts and structures from damage … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Facial symmetry doesn't explain 'beer goggles' phenomenon, research shows

If you thought blurry eyes were to blame for the "beer goggles" phenomenon, think again. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Research investigates evolution of symbiotic binary HM Sagittae

Using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), astronomers have performed a multiwavelength study of a symbiotic binary known as HM Sagittae. Results of the study, presented December 4 on the pre-print server arXiv, yield … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New study reveals characteristics that are shared among a group of uniquely gifted dogs

All dog owners think that their pups are special. Science now has documented that some rare dogs are even more special. They have a talent for learning hundreds of names of dog toys. Due to the extreme rarity of this phenomenon, until recently, very little was known about these d … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

'Weak tea': Climate scientists push back against COP28 cheer

A UN climate deal that approved a call to transition away from fossil fuels has been hailed as a major milestone and a cause for at least cautious optimism. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

China's space program: Five things to know

When Chang'e-3 became the first Chinese craft to land on the moon 10 years ago, it kicked off nationwide celebrations—and a decade of major successes for a rapidly accelerating space program. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New study eyes nutrition-rich chia seed for potential to improve human health

Oregon State University scientists have sequenced the chia genome and in doing so provided a blueprint for future research that capitalizes on the nutritional and human health benefits of the plant. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New way to charge batteries harnesses the power of 'indefinite causal order'

Batteries that exploit quantum phenomena to gain, distribute and store power promise to surpass the abilities and usefulness of conventional chemical batteries in certain low-power applications. For the first time, researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, take a … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Bats declined as Britain felled trees for colonial shipbuilding, says new study

Bat numbers declined as Britain's trees were felled for shipbuilding in the early colonial period, new research shows. The work is published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Neanderthals may have been morning people, says new study

A new research paper finds that genetic material from Neanderthal ancestors may have contributed to the propensity of some people today to be "early risers," the sort of people who are more comfortable getting up and going to bed earlier. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Mothers and children have their birthday in the same month more often than you'd think—and here's why

Do you celebrate your birthday in the same month as your mother? If so, you are not alone. The phenomenon occurs more commonly than expected, a new study of millions of families has revealed. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Hard-fought COP28 agreement suggests the days of fossil fuels are numbered—but climate catastrophe is not yet averted

As negotiators stagger towards their beds in Dubai and another year's climate talks come to a close, it's time to take stock. Did COP28 achieve the big breakthrough the world needs on climate change? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Possible first ever synchrotron-based analysis of asteroid Bennu to be performed

After an amazing journey, a grain from the asteroid Bennu will be brought to Diamond Light Source, the UK's national synchrotron, for scientific measurements. The grain is from 100 milligrams of sample sent to the Natual History Museum (NHM) in London, a small fraction of the app … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Astronomy toolkit allows users to create their own sky map, find the weirdest stars and explore the surface of the moon

A new set of tools for astronomers and planetary explorers use interactive visual analytics and machine learning to reveal and contrast properties of objects in our galaxy. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Invasive species threaten marine biodiversity in Danish waters

Not all new underwater residents are polite. Some overshadow other species or gorge themselves on food sources at the expense of the species already living there. There is little data on invasive species in the Danish waters, fjords, and streams, but with the help of an underwate … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New chemical method advances toward targeted RNA medicine

Targeted drugs aim to pinpoint the exact location in the body where diseased tissue is located and where the medicine is required. The manifold benefits of administering a targeted drug include heightened efficacy, as the drug is meticulously designed for specificity, thereby red … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

The NZ aviation industry is making bold climate claims—and risking anti-greenwashing litigation

On the same day last week that Air New Zealand announced the purchase of its first fully electric aircraft, Christchurch Airport announced it had reached "a new standard for decarbonization". On the face of it, great news for reducing aviation emissions in Aotearoa. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Nourishing communities: Neighborhood restaurants as social infrastructure

Studies on sustainability inevitably touch on food-related topics like food security, culinary heritage, and the sustenance of vulnerable people. Social sustainability is one of the three pillars of sustainability, alongside environmental and economic sustainability, and has beco … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Electric vehicles improve air quality for everyone but have less impact in more polluted areas, study finds

Although electric vehicle ownership is higher in wealthier neighborhoods than in disadvantaged ones, EVs improve air quality in all communities, a UCLA study found. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Wildfires found to also impact aquatic ecosystems

In devasting cases dotting the globe in recent years, climate warming has led to an increase in the number and severity of destructive wildfires. Climate change projections indicate that environmental and economic damage from wildfires will spread and escalate in the years ahead. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Workplace gossip can benefit employees and employers: Study

New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York shows how some workplace gossip could reduce the likelihood of employee turnover and, as a result, potentially boost an organization's effectiveness. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Three orphaned mountain lion cubs rescued in San Diego

Three orphaned mountain lion cubs were recently rescued by the University of California, Davis' Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The cubs—approximately six weeks old at the time of their r … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

The shape of dogs' heads affects their sleep, according to study

Flat-faced dog breeds are popular all over the world. In the U.S. and in Hungary, the French bulldog is currently the most common breed. However, their popularity comes at a high cost in terms of health: Shortened skulls are associated with deteriorative brain morphology changes, … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Unlocking the secrets of fast radio bursts: More pieces to the puzzle of mysterious space signals

A team of SETI Institute scientists has unveiled new insights into a cosmic mystery known as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). The discovery and detailed observation of the repeating FRB 20220912A, made at the SETI Institute's refurbished Allen Telescope Array (ATA), shed light on the na … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

First ground-based survey of damage to Ukrainian cultural sites reveals severity, need for urgency

The war in Ukraine is not just a war against a people, but a war on culture. And after nearly two years of fighting, it is destroying Ukraine's cultural heritage on a scale not seen since World War II, according to new research by University of Notre Dame faculty members Ian Kuij … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Embedding nanodiamonds in polymer can advance quantum computing and biological studies

A nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is a defect in the crystal structure of diamond, where a nitrogen atom replaces a carbon atom in the diamond lattice and a neighboring site in the lattice is vacant. This and other fluorescent defects in diamond, known as color centers, have attract … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New genetic vulnerability to herbicide found in nearly 50 sweet and field corn lines

When a sweet corn breeder reached out in 2021 to report severe injury from the herbicide tolpyralate, Marty Williams hoped it was a fluke isolated to a single inbred line. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Aquatic insects in restored streams need more rocks to lay their eggs

Likening it to providing more runways at busy airports, researchers at North Carolina State University found in a new study that adding protruding rocks to restored streams can help attract female aquatic insects that lay their eggs on the rock bottoms or sides. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago