Fears in Wales over legacy of its coalmining past

It was nearly four years ago but the memory of the landslip that sent 60,000 tons of old mining debris sliding down a Welsh hillside still haunts former miner Jeff Coombes. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

New research shows 'juvenile' T. rex fossils are a distinct species of small tyrannosaur

A new analysis of fossils believed to be juveniles of T. rex now shows they were adults of a small tyrannosaur, with narrower jaws, longer legs, and bigger arms than T. rex. The species, Nanotyrannus lancensis, was first named decades ago but later reinterpreted as a young T. rex … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Using electricity, scientists find promising new method of boosting chemical reactions

As the world moves away from gas towards electricity as a greener power source, the to-do list goes beyond cars. The vast global manufacturing network that makes everything from our batteries to our fertilizers needs to flip the switch, too. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Researchers propose 'RNAkine' nomenclature for naming extracellular ncRNAs

Throughout the history of RNA research, one can immediately notice a significant breakthrough during 2007 and 2008, in which several groups independently reported the discovery of intact noncoding RNA (ncRNA) sequences in extracellular space. Later on, the discovery of these extr … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

California singing fish's midbrain may serve as a model for how mammals control vocal expressions

For talkative midshipman fish—sometimes called the "California singing fish"—the midbrain plays a robust role in initiating and patterning trains of sounds used in vocal communication. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

How tomato plants use their roots to ration water during drought

Plants have to be flexible to survive environmental changes, and the adaptive methods they deploy must often be as changeable as the shifts in climate and condition to which they adapt. To cope with drought, plant roots produce a water-repellent polymer called suberin that blocks … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Targeted household cleaning can reduce toxic chemicals post-wildfire, research shows

After the last embers of a campfire dim, the musky smell of smoke remains. Whiffs of that distinct smokey smell may serve as a pleasant reminder of the evening prior, but in the wake of a wildfire, that smell comes with ongoing health risks. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Astrophysicists explore links between atmospheric oxygen and detecting extraterrestrial technology on distant planets

In the quest to understand the potential for life beyond Earth, researchers are widening their search to encompass not only biological markers, but also technological ones. While astrobiologists have long recognized the importance of oxygen for life as we know it, oxygen could al … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Study: From NYC to DC and beyond, cities on the East Coast are sinking

Major cities on the U.S. Atlantic coast are sinking, in some cases as much as 5 millimeters per year—a decline at the ocean's edge that well outpaces global sea level rise, confirms new research from Virginia Tech and the U.S. Geological Survey. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Diversity of bioluminescent beetles in Brazilian savanna has declined sharply in 30 years, finds study

At night in the Cerrado, Brazil's savanna and second-largest biome, larvae of the click beetle Pyrearinus termitilluminans, which live in termite mounds, display green lanterns to capture prey attracted by the bright light. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

New mapping method illuminates druggable sites on proteins

Identifying new ways to target proteins involved in human diseases is a priority for many researchers around the world. However, discovering how to alter the function of these proteins can be difficult, especially in live cells. Now, scientists from Scripps Research have develope … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Evolution might stop humans from solving climate change, researchers say

Central features of human evolution may stop our species from resolving global environmental problems like climate change, says a recent study led by the University of Maine. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

The mighty coast redwoods are born to change. But can they evolve fast enough to survive climate warming?

Coast redwoods—enormous, spectacular trees, some reaching nearly 400 feet, the tallest plants on the planet—thrive mostly in a narrow strip of land in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Most of them grow from southern Oregon down into Northern California, snugged up agai … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Examining the effects of ultrasound-assisted fermentation on Chinese rice wine

Traditional Chinese rice wine (RW) has been popular in China for thousands of years. The brewing process involves simultaneous saccharification and solid-state fermentation using mixed saccharifying starters, such as wheat starter and distiller's yeast. However, the brewing mediu … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Switching to plant-based diets means cleaner air and could save more than 200,000 lives around the world, says study

Adopting a healthier diet will probably feature prominently in many of our New Year's resolutions. But it's often challenging for people to live up to their intentions. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

New alginate extraction method may help cultivated kelp be as good as wild kelp

Norway's exports products derived from from tangle kelp (Laminoria hyperborea) and knotted kelp (Ascophyllum nodosu) to the tune of more than NOK 1 billion a year. The industry mainly extracts alginate from kelp, which is used in over 600 different products as diverse as paint, s … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

India to study black holes with first satellite launch after US

India launched its first satellite on Monday to study black holes as it seeks to deepen its space exploration efforts ahead of an ambitious crewed mission next year. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

A noxious weed threatens the Connecticut River. Students created a device to join effort to eradicate it

The multimillion dollar threat to the lower Connecticut River from the invasive aquatic weed hydrilla has attracted attention from around the country, as scientists work on ways to contain it. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Strategies to engineer metal-organic frameworks for efficient photocatalysis

The ever-increasing global energy shortage and the worsening of the environment urgently require the substitution of conventional fossil-based energy for green and sustainable energy. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Novel approach uses ionic liquids for diverse aptamer applications

Aptamers, nucleic acids capable of selectively binding to viruses, proteins, ions, small molecules, and various other targets, are garnering attention in drug development as potential antibody substitutes for their thermal and chemical stability as well as their ability to inhibi … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Women's and girls' sports: More popular than you may think

The number of Americans who watch or follow girls' and women's sports goes well beyond those who view TV coverage of women's athletic events, a new study suggests. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Influencers' vulnerabilities found to be a double-edged sword

The old adage states, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." But what if work in a kitchen pays the bills? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Exploring the details of a German mummy collection

Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany have carried out the first comprehensive analysis of some 20 mummy fragments from collections in the University's archives and have presented their findings in Annals of the History and Philosophy of Biology. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Targeted pest control with RNA spray

Protecting plants efficiently against pests without harming other organisms—this is the objective of the joint research project ViVe_Beet, which is coordinated by the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI). Scientists from the JKI Institute for Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland, … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Elusive cytonemes guide neural development, provide signaling 'express route'

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists found that cytonemes (thin, long, hair-like projections on cells) are important during neural development. Cytonemes connect cells communicating across vast distances but are difficult to capture with microscopy in developing verte … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Using UV disinfection instead of antibiotics in poultry farming

Infectious diseases pose a huge problem in poultry farming. Poultry farmers are often forced to rely on antibiotics to tackle this issue. However, this can sometimes result in germs developing resistance to these drugs. These resistant pathogens then find their way into our food … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

New research shows the Cerne Abbas Giant was a muster station for King Alfred's armies

New research from the University of Oxford concludes that the Cerne Abbas Giant was originally carved as an image of Hercules to mark a muster station for West Saxon armies. The figure was later reinterpreted by the monks of Cerne Abbas as their local Saint Eadwold. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

ESA's tiny pinhole thruster is ready for production

Rocket propulsion technology has progressed leaps and bounds since the first weaponized rockets of the Chinese and Mongolian empires. They were nothing more than rocket-powered arrows and spears but they set the foundations for our exploration of space. Liquid propellant, ion eng … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

NASA tests 3D-printed, rotating detonation rocket engine

Looking to the future, NASA is investigating several technologies that will allow it to accomplish some bold objectives. This includes returning to the moon, creating the infrastructure that will let us stay there, sending the first crewed mission to Mars, exploring the outer sol … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Face to face with sun-eclipsing Proba-3

Through exquisite, millimeter-scale, formation flying, the dual satellites making up ESA's Proba-3 will accomplish what was previously a space mission impossible: Cast a precisely held shadow from one platform to the other, in the process blocking out the fiery sun to observe its … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Won't my cat get bored if I keep it inside? Here's how to ensure it's happy

The Australian and American Veterinary Medical Associations recommend keeping cats indoors because they, and wildlife, will be safer. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Want to buy a home telescope? Tips from a professional astronomer to help you choose

While the unaided eye or binoculars can reveal much of the night sky, a telescope reveals so much more. Seeing Saturn's rings or the moon's craters with your own eyes can be an "oh wow" moment. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Crocs love feral pigs and quolls have a taste for rabbit—but it doesn't solve Australia's invasive species problem

Across the vast Australian continent, feral pigs, feral deer and European rabbits roam in their millions. By different names—wild boar, venison, and lapin—these could all be served in a Michelin-star restaurant. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Deciphering molecular mysteries: New insights into metabolites that control aging and disease

In a significant advancement in the field of biochemistry, scientists at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Cornell University have uncovered new insights into a family of metabolites, acylspermidines, that could change how we understand aging and fight diseases. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Designing the 'perfect' meal to feed long-term space travelers

Imagine blasting off on a multiyear voyage to Mars, fueled by a diet of bland, prepackaged meals. As space agencies plan for longer missions, they're grappling with the challenge of how to feed people best. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Food Science & Technology have designed … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Study shows 3D organization of DNA controls cell identity programs

In a complex called chromatin, long strands of DNA in cells' nuclei are tightly wrapped around a scaffolding of proteins, like a rolled-up ball of yarn. A new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators reveals that beyond providing a convenient way to store DNA in a tight spac … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

'Nutritional quality must be at the heart of climate-smart agriculture,' researchers say

According to a major research study, farmers in sub-Saharan Africa need to diversify away from growing maize and switch to crops that are resilient to climate change and supply enough key micronutrients for the population. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

2023 set to be UK's second-hottest year: Met Office

Last year is set to be the UK's second warmest on record, according to provisional figures released on Tuesday by the country's national meteorological service. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Reducing inequality is essential in tackling climate crisis, researchers argue

Promoting climate-friendly behaviors will be more successful in societies where everyone has the capacity: financially, physically, and timewise, to make changes. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

A new deep-learning-based analysis toolkit for spatial transcriptomics

Biology and medical researchers use spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies to detect transcription levels in cells, predict cell types and build a tissue's three-dimensional (3D) structure. However, this analysis can be difficult when there are multiple tissue slices that need … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Lake fish in New York are losing habitat due to two threats associated with climate change, study shows

A team of biologists and natural resource specialists from Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, both in New York, has found evidence suggesting that lake fish in some of New York's lakes are losing habitat due to dual threats related to climate change. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

New crystalline sponge method proposed for undergraduate courses

The crystal sponge technology is a revolutionary technique, which enables the direct and precise determination of the molecular structure of liquid and gas targets. The technique uses a special network complex to selectively absorb liquid or gas target molecules and order them ov … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Aunts, aunties and 'tías' offer protection to their LGBTQ youth relatives

Researchers have found that aunts play a crucial role in supporting the well-being of their LGBTQ youth relatives, including preventing them from experiencing homelessness. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Balancing the potentials and pitfalls of AI in college admissions

There is not a typical day in an admissions office according to Ryan Motevalli-Oliner ME '20, associate dean for enrollment operations at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. As a small private school, Kenyon receives approximately 8,500 applications a year with a 29% acceptance rate … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

The early universe was surprisingly filled with spiral galaxies, research suggests

If we could travel far beyond our galaxy, and look back upon the Milky Way, it would be a glorious sight. Luminous spirals stretching from a central core, with dust and nebulae scattered along the spiral edges. When you think about a galaxy, you probably imagine a spiral galaxy l … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

How a small town in Japan fiercely defends its dark skies

Light pollution ruins dark skies. It's a scourge that ground-based observatories have to deal with in one form or another. Scientists used a small observatory in Japan to measure what changed when a nearby town improved its lighting practices. They also noted the challenges it st … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

Do strict dress codes and uniforms do more harm than good?

How do you feel when you wear a uniform? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago

How many planets could be in the Kuiper Belt?

A recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters investigates the potential existence of Mars-sized free-floating planets (FFPs)—also known as rogue planets, starless planets, and wandering planets—that could have been captured by our sun's gravity long ago and orbit … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 10 months ago