Dubai summit adopts world-first 'transition' from fossil fuels

Nearly 200 nations meeting in Dubai on Wednesday approved a first-ever call for the world to transition away from fossil fuels, the top culprit of climate change behind a planetary crisis. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Singapore bids farewell to China-bound panda cub

Singaporeans bid farewell to a two-year-old panda cub on Wednesday as authorities prepared to send him to China where he will join the country's breeding program. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Cyclone Jasper makes landfall in Australia

Tropical Cyclone Jasper hit northeast Australia Wednesday, leaving thousands of people in coastal communities without power and preparing for potentially "life-threatening" floods. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Natural gas is actually migrating under permafrost, and could see methane emissions skyrocket if it escapes

Beneath Svalbard's permafrost, millions of cubic meters of methane are trapped—and scientists have now learned that it can migrate beneath the cold seal of the permafrost and escape. A large-scale escape could create a cycle of warming that would send methane emissions skyrocketi … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Attainment gap between UK white and minority ethnic medical students varies by ethnicity and medical school

The size of the gap in academic achievement between white and minority ethnic medical students in the UK varies considerably, depending on their individual ethnicity and which medical school they attended, finds the largest study of its kind, published in the open access journal … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

NASA's Perseverance rover deciphers ancient history of Martian lake

Marking its 1,000th Martian day on the Red Planet, NASA's Perseverance rover recently completed its exploration of the ancient river delta that holds evidence of a lake that filled Jezero Crater billions of years ago. The six-wheeled scientist has to date collected a total of 23 … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Researcher discovers new technique for photon detection

University of Central Florida researcher Debashis Chanda, a professor at the NanoScience Technology Center, has developed a new technique to detect photons—elementary particles that span from visible light to radio frequencies and are instrumental in carrying cellular communicati … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Is age linked to the picture of the perfect partner?

How do women picture the partner of their dreams? And how does this vary between women based on their age? A team of researchers led by the University of Göttingen investigated the complex relationships between age and preferences for a partner in a large, international sample of … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Exploring how the convergence of automation and AI reshapes organic chemistry research

Recently, National Science Open magazine published online a review article led by Professor Fanyang Mo (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University) and Professor Yuntian Chen (Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo). | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Understanding the key to predicting heat events in Central Europe

The surface temperature of the North Atlantic plays an important role in the occurrence of heat waves in Europe. However, researchers at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel have shown that it is not high water temperatures but low water temperatures that are re … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Study finds configuration of green spaces in cities determines the characteristics of their birds

An international team including researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) and the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), has studied the distribution of 115 species of birds in spring and 72 that spend the winter in nine European cities. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Images: Moon, asteroids and new rockets topped the world's space news in 2023

The moon, asteroids and brand new rockets topped the world's space news in 2023. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Q&A: Finding more sustainable ways to use plastics in agriculture

Every year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, some 12.5 million tonnes of plastic are used in agricultural production worldwide. Plastic is a boon to farmers, but leads to large quantities of macro-, micro- and nanoplastics accumulating in soils a … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Researchers review miniaturized electrochemical sensor technologies for rapid heavy metal detection

Heavy metals (HMs) are metals with high densities and atomic weights. Originating from geological processes or human activities, including mining, industrial production, and petrochemical plants, they are toxic to humans and animals and considered as common pollutants in the envi … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Long dormant volcanoes can erupt rapidly and explosively, says Ciomadul study

Can a volcano erupt after tens of thousands of years of dormancy? If so, how can this be explained and what makes volcanic eruptions more dangerous? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Long-term green manuring strengthens core microbiomes in driving multiple functions across vertical soil profiles: Study

A study published in the journal Science China Life Sciences was led by Prof. Weidong Cao (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences) and Prof. Zongxian Che (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer and Water-saving Agriculture, G … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Encounter with humpback whales reveals potential for nonhuman intelligence communication

A team of scientists from the SETI Institute, University of California Davis and the Alaska Whale Foundation, had a close encounter with a non-human (aquatic) intelligence. The Whale-SETI team has been studying humpback whale communication systems in an effort to develop intellig … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Assessing loan applicants' credit risk via smartphone activities helps improve financial inclusion, finds study

Financial technology (FinTech)—innovation in the delivery of financial services and products—has grown in popularity, expanding access to finance for millions of people. But while promoting inclusive finance to accelerate economic growth and financial sustainability is considered … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

How 'sleeping' microorganisms can determine the fate of a population

Microorganisms that temporarily "go to sleep" play an important role in the evolution and survival of a population. Mathematician Shubhamoy Nandan conducted research on the effect of this characteristic called "dormancy" in a novel mathematical model. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Study highlights benefits of user-generated content to digital platform

Many online platforms (e.g., Huffpost, Wikipedia) host user-generated content (UGC) and content developed by professional reporters. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

How a drought led to the rise of skateboarding in 1970s California

Why did professional skateboarding arise in southern California in the 1970s? Was it a coincidence, or was it a perfect storm of multiple factors? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

You can always become a better reader, say researchers

Our reading skills, and understanding of a text, depend on several factors. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Evidence-based policymaking: New study on international perspectives and best-practice models

In order to tackle challenges facing society, such as the energy transition, digitalization, or pandemics, structured, transparent, and fact-based political decision-making processes are needed. Analysis based on science can provide the basis for better-informed decisions. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Viewpoint: The importance of sustainability metrics to sustainability management

Every student of management knows that performance measurement is an essential element of effective management. To paraphrase the great management scholar Peter Drucker, you can't manage something if you can't measure it. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Translating humorous children's poetry? Content matters most

Translating poetry is notoriously difficult. Translating poetry in such a way that the humorous nature of a poem remains intact is even more difficult, even though it is precisely jokes that can encourage children to read more, notes Ph.D. candidate Alice Morta. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Climate negotiators eye compromise on fossil fuel exit

Negotiators awaited a new draft deal on the fate of fossil fuels as UN climate talks went into overtime in Dubai on Tuesday after nations pushing for a phase-out clashed with Saudi-led oil producers. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Blue Origin announces space launch next week, first since 2022 crash

Blue Origin said on Tuesday it was aiming to launch its New Shepard suborbital rocket next week, the first mission since an uncrewed crash in September 2022 set back Jeff Bezos' space company. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Warmest Arctic summer caused by accelerating climate change

Summer surface air temperatures in 2023 were the warmest ever observed in the Arctic as a result of accelerating human-caused climate change, an official report card published Tuesday said. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

This Japanese 'dragon' terrorized ancient seas

Researchers have described a Japanese mosasaur the size of a great white shark that terrorized Pacific seas 72 million years ago. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Waterbird numbers up after La Niña years: Aerial survey

Widespread flooding and environmental flows have been a boon for our waterbirds and wetlands—but long-term decline is persisting. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Q&A: Polarization in the Netherlands actually is not that bad

Discussions about important societal issues, whether they relate to domestic or foreign affairs, on the street and in academia, seem to be intensifying. The heightened tone, personal attacks, and polarization are characteristic of these discussions. Is this a prevailing feature o … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Supercharged heat waves like Washington's deadliest will strike harder and more often, study says

North America's 2021 heat wave was Washington's deadliest weather-related disaster, claiming over 100 lives in the evergreen state and many others in neighboring regions. Scientists not only suggest that such heat waves will grow more intense and strike more often—in new work pub … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

California wants farms to capture methane from cow manure. Neighbors say it's killing them

At a massive dairy farm in the San Joaquin Valley, nearly 14,000 Holstein cows crane their necks through feeding stalls and gnaw leisurely on alfalfa. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

How and when to see the Geminid meteor shower in the UK

Stargazers will have a chance to enjoy one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year later this week, as the Geminids reach their peak. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Livestock associations sue Colorado, U.S. Fish and Wildlife to delay gray wolf reintroduction

The Colorado Cattlemen's Association and Gunnison County Stockgrowers' Association sued Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week to delay the reintroduction of gray wolves into Colorado. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

One in three UK men open to having more than one partner, study shows

A third of UK men are open to the idea of having more than one wife or long-term girlfriend, according to a new Swansea University study. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Novel early-detection method aims to stem disease spread in animal trade

A new article published in the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution by researchers describes a simplified method to detect a deadly fungus killing European salamanders. The ability to rapidly find the fungus is significant as the disease, although not detected in the U.S., co … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Video: Permafrost thaw: A silent menace

Ice is without doubt one of the first casualties of climate change, but the effects of our warming world are not only limited to ice melting on Earth's surface. Ground that has been frozen for thousands of years, called permafrost, is thawing—adding to the climate crisis and caus … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Climate change causing 60% of plants and insects to fall out of sync

Seasonal timings of plants are advancing an average of four times faster than insects, throwing key interactions like pollination out of sync. This is according to new findings from researchers at the University of Oxford and Chinese Academy of Sciences that will be presented at … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Finding a better way to use cameras to reduce crime

Areas of a middle Georgia city have experienced a 20% reduction in crime after deploying a system of mobile cameras guided by an algorithm developed by Georgia Tech researchers. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Replacing 'you' with 'we' can make a message less threatening, and less likely to be censored

Ever been in a situation where you just can't get your message across? New research by Zakary Tormala and Mohamed Hussein suggests that you might want to rethink which pronouns you deploy. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Investigating microfiber pollution

The fashion industry is facing several growing social and environmental sustainability issues; from clothing textile waste to the prospect of widespread microfiber pollution (MSF). For the latter, we struggle to even define the problem. While we know that huge amounts of microfib … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New report outlines opportunities to remove CO2 at the gigaton scale

Scientists from more than a dozen institutions have completed a first-of-its-kind high-resolution assessment of carbon dioxide removal potential in the United States, charting a path to achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas economy by 2050. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Zoo-housed carnivores react positively to novel improvements to their enclosures, study suggests

Nottingham Trent University research revealed how carnivores became significantly more active and engaged more with their enclosures when given additional enrichment such as different types of feeding, new structures, the introduction of manipulable objects and techniques to trig … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Climate change imperils Southern California's coastal rail corridor, panelists say

Climate change is "wreaking havoc" on the coastal rail corridor from Santa Barbara to San Diego, Sen. Catherine Blakespear said at a Senate Transportation Subcommittee meeting in San Clemente. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New comprehensive genome data on soil invertebrates provide insights into their biodiversity

With the "MetaInvert" project, scientists are providing extensive genomic data on 232 species of previously little-studied organisms. They are tiny, enormously diverse, and widespread in the soil: soil invertebrates such as springtails, horn mites, millipedes and nematodes. These … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Halley's comet is finally headed back to the sun: When you can see it

The most famous comet of all is headed back toward Earth. Halley's comet reached aphelion—its farthest point from the sun—on Dec. 8, at which point it began its long journey back to the sun. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Research finds police bodycams more important than race, gender in public's assessment of use-of-force cases

Police body-worn cameras (BWCs) are the most important tool to provide an accurate and honest assessment of encounters between law enforcement and civilians, according to a new study co-written by a University of Massachusetts Amherst public policy researcher. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago