Revolutionizing rose breeding: Unraveling the mystery of self-incompatibility and genetic linkages in roses

Roses, celebrated worldwide for their ornamental value, have a long history of breeding and cultivation, with more than 30,000 cultivars. Roses are predominantly outcrossing and highly heterozygous plants, and patterns of inheritance for most traits are difficult to predict. As a … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers develop new method of modeling market regimes using efficient frontier information

Financial markets often undergo changing regimes or states, where environments can be significantly different from one another. Various models have attempted to capture the dynamics of these regimes, but exhibit poor performance when tested on unfamiliar data. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Unlocking the genetic potential of apple and pear: Advances in intergeneric hybrid viability and trait selection

The Pomoideae subfamily includes nutritionally valuable pome fruits like apples and pears, and their genetic diversity is critical for the enhancement of fruit crops. Current research has made strides in intergeneric hybridization to amalgamate traits such as flavor and disease r … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Women still face unfair pressure about having children

If you're a woman in your 20s or 30s, particularly if you're in a long-term relationship, you've probably been asked when you're going to have children. In the UK and many other countries, there is a clear societal expectation that women will eventually become mothers. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Hydrogen detected in lunar samples, points to resource availability for space exploration

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) researchers have discovered solar-wind hydrogen in lunar samples, which indicates that water on the surface of the moon may provide a vital resource for future lunar bases and longer-range space exploration. Space-based resource identification … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers investigate effect of invasive species on plant–soil microbial feedback in different environments

Interactions between plants and their associated soil biota (plant-soil feedback, PSF) are often considered to be one of the most important drivers of plant abundance, community composition, and biological invasion. However, it is still unclear how PSF changes during biological i … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study reveals reduced γ-glutamyl hydrolase activity as a key to higher folate levels in tomato

Tomato is the sixth most important globally grown crop and is rich in many nutraceuticals, especially the antioxidants lycopene and β-carotene. Vitamin B9 (folate) is an essential vitamin for all organisms. However, despite the high folate content in tomato leaves, the fruits con … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

NASA climate science spacecraft PACE arrives for launch

NASA's PACE spacecraft completed its journey Tuesday, Nov. 14, from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, to the Astrotech Spacecraft Operations facility near the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Shedding light on the complex evolution of human feet

An extensive study, published in Communications Biology, sheds new light on the complex evolution of our feet. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Thank gluten's complex chemistry for your light, fluffy baked goods

Within the bread, rolls and baked goods on many tables this holiday season is an extraordinary substance—gluten. Gluten's unique chemistry makes foods airy and stretchy. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Advancing viticulture: Pioneering transgene-free CRISPR genome editing in grapevines

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) holds significant economic and cultural value, driving the need for rapid genetic improvement to meet climatic and market demands. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

The good, bad and essential: Microbes that affect food and health

EU researchers are examining how bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms could boost the health of both plants and animals. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Laser-powered 'tweezers' reveal universal mechanism viruses use to package up DNA

Researchers have used laser-powered 'optical tweezers' to reveal a universal motor mechanism used by viruses for packaging their DNA into infectious particles. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

What would it take for a cease-fire to happen in Gaza?

Calls for a cease-fire and other limits on military operations and violence were made by governments, advocacy groups and political leaders around the world almost immediately after the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israeli civilians by Hamas. Israel immediately declared war on … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study unveils strategies for global virtual teams to facilitate effective long-distance communication

Scientists say they have revealed a host of strategies that can facilitate the flow of information among global virtual teams (GVTs) of different cultural, linguistic, and geographic backgrounds. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers develop software with enhanced genome-sequencing powers for better plant breeding

A new software tool with enhanced genome-sequencing powers has been developed by the University of Adelaide, increasing the speed and accuracy at which researchers can improve plants through breeding. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

'Time warp' takes students to Native American past to search for solutions for the future

The eyes of the fifth graders in Ms. Evans' class widened as they saw a dazzling light on the classroom smartboard and the phrase, "Let's do the Time Warp!" | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Deep-sea mining and warming trigger stress in a midwater jellyfish: Study investigates effects of sediment plumes

The deep sea is home to one of the world's largest communities of animals about which we still know very little. Yet it is already subject to a growing number of human-induced environmental pressures. How do its inhabitants respond to these stressors? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Gaza war: How investigators would go about finding and verifying underground military complexes

Following the raid on the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza by units of the Israel Defence Forces on October 15, the IDF claims to have uncovered evidence of tunnels underneath the hospital. A video released on November 19 showed a tunnel running under the al-Shifa medical complex at a d … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

How do viruses get into cells? Their infection tactics determine whether they can jump species or set off a pandemic

COVID-19, flu, mpox, noroviral diarrhea: How do the viruses that cause these diseases actually infect you? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Lizards, fish and other species are evolving with climate change, but not fast enough

Climate change is threatening the survival of plants and animals around the globe as temperatures rise and habitats change. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researcher: The 15-minute city is a popular planning approach, but relies on ableist assumptions

The 15-minute city is a popular urban planning concept that promotes people living close to essential services, and encourages the use of walking and biking. Public transit is sometimes included in the transport mix, preferred to automobiles, which are largely absent. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Nostalgia in politics: Study sheds light on how (and why) parties appeal to the past in their election campaigns

Have you ever felt nostalgic when thinking about the past? Then you are not alone. According to survey research, around two-thirds of the European public feel nostalgic. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers: Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy—here's how we can fight back

Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarize the public, reduce health-protective behaviors such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not by accident but as part of organized po … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Denial is over: Climate change is happening, but why do we still act like it's not?

Climate-fueled disaster is now front-page news, as record-breaking floods, fires, droughts and storms keep arriving. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Sophisticated swarming: Bacteria support each other across generations

When bacteria build communities, they cooperate and share nutrients across generations. Researchers at the University of Basel have been able to demonstrate this for the first time using a newly developed method. This innovative technique enables the tracking of gene expression d … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Better capturing the effect of aerosol particles on clouds and the climate

The extent to which aerosol particles affect the climate depends on how much water the particles can hold in the atmosphere. The capacity to hold water is referred to as hygroscopicity (K) and, in turn, depends on further factors—particularly the size and chemical composition of … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Caught in living cells: How bacteria regulate their genes to defend themselves

For the first time, it was shown in living cells how the bacterium E. coli regulates genes that help it survive in a new environment. Biochemist Fatema Zahra Rashid managed to do this using a technique she fine-tuned. Her research into changes in 3-dimensional chromosome structur … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Skull shape can predict how extinct vultures fed on carrion

Variations in the skull shape of vultures have been found to coincide with the preferred method each species uses to feed on a carcass. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study highlights need to keep an eye on the ozone hole

Despite public perception, the Antarctic ozone hole has been remarkably massive and long-lived over the past four years, University of Otago researchers believe chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) aren't the only things to blame. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Written in blood: How bloodstain 'tails' can point to significant, additional forensic details

Forensic science has captured the public imagination by storm, as the profusion of "true crime" media in the last decade or so suggests. By now, most of us know that evidence left at a crime scene, such as blood, can often reveal information that is key to investigating and under … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Scientists take a step forward in understanding how to tackle chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients

Scientists have engineered a living material resembling human phlegm, which will help them to better understand how a certain kind of infection develops on the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

From waste to wealth: Transforming biomass into humic acid with two-step hydrothermal process via hydrochar

Humic acid (HA) is a macromolecular organic substance that is widely used in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, chemical industry, building materials, medicine, environmental protection, and a number of other fields. However, the production of chemical HA in the market reli … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study sheds new light on mechanism of robust motility of flagellated bacteria

Flagellated bacteria are propelled by the rotation of helical flagellar filaments, each with a flagellar motor at its base. Taking Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an example, each cell has 3–7 flagella whose rotation as a helical bundle enables the cell to move smoothly. The flagel … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers improve efficacy and efficiency of CRISPR diagnostic technology

Changchun Liu, professor of Biomedical Engineering at UConn Health, has developed a new method that improves existing diagnostic technology for a more rapid, sensitive, and deployable approach to molecular diagnostics. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

First comprehensive global analysis shows action on emissions can bring huge health benefits

Experts are calling on global leaders to implement climate mitigation actions that could prevent millions of premature deaths worldwide each year as well as reduce the risks of climate change. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

An effective approach for preparing supramolecular polymers at high concentration

Supramolecular polymers (SPs) are molecular assemblies composed of non-covalently bonded small molecules. They show high recyclability originating from their dynamic nature of monomer binding, which is different from covalent polymers with non-biodegradable nature. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

New teaching framework aims to make short STEM training effective, inclusive and scalable

Success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) demands keeping up with the latest tools and techniques. The AI boom, for example, has made coding and data management skills integral. But going back to school isn't an option for most scientists. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study offers new method for determining the water content of water-soluble compounds

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland School of Pharmacy have developed a new method for the accurate determination of the water content of water-soluble compounds. This plays a significant role in, for example, drug dosage. The method utilizes solution-state nuclear m … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Researchers achieve zero-knowledge proof based on device-independent quantum random number beacon

Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) is a cryptographic tool that allows for the verification of validity between mutually untrusted parties without disclosing additional information. Non-interactive zero-knowledge proof (NIZKP) is a variant of ZKP with the feature of not requiring multipl … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Tiny beads preserve enzymes for biocatalysis

Plasmas can provide the co-substrate needed for biocatalysis of valuable substances, but they are also harmful to enzymes. By attaching enzymes to small beads, the enzymes are protected and remain active up to 44 times longer. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Trilobites rise from the ashes to reveal ancient map

Ten newly discovered species of trilobites, hidden for 490 million years in a little-studied part of Thailand, could be the missing pieces in an intricate puzzle of ancient world geography. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Study shows how AI can detect antibiotic resistance in as little as 30 minutes

To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, researchers supported by the Oxford Martin Program on Antimicrobial Resistance Testing at the University of Oxford have reported advances towards a novel and rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test that can return results within as litt … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Improved air quality could enhance natural carbon sequestration by plants

Reducing pollution from aerosol particles would improve air quality. It could also increase the amount of sunlight accessible to plants—enhancing their ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Creating vortices in a superfluid made of light

By using a special combination of laser beams as a very fast stirrer, RIKEN physicists have created multiple vortices in a quantum photonic system and tracked their evolution. This system could be used to explore exotic new physics related to the emergence of quantum states from … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Grief questionnaire results suggest Irish wakes may help reduce feelings of loss more than UK funerals

A team of psychologists and social scientists from Maynooth University, in Ireland, Ulster University, in Northern Ireland and Napier University, in Scotland, has found via questionnaire that traditional Irish wakes may help people deal better with the death of a loved one than s … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

Acoustic diffraction-resistant adaptive profile technology for elasticity imaging

Acoustic beam shaping with high degrees of freedom is critical for ultrasound imaging, acoustic regulation, and stimulation. The ability to fully regulate the acoustic pressure profile relative to its propagation path remains to be achieved. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago

The formation of switchable and metastable discrete structures through chiral self-sorting

A paper titled "Thermo-/Mechano-Chromic Chiral Coordination Dimer: Formation of Switchable and Metastable Discrete Structure through Chiral Self-Sorting" describes chiral coordination dimers that emerge based on effectively exclusive chiral self-sorting. The complex also exhibits … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 1 year ago