Carbon dioxide, not water, triggers explosive basaltic volcanoes

Geoscientists have long thought that water—along with shallow magma stored in Earth's crust—drives volcanoes to erupt. Now, thanks to newly developed research tools at Cornell, scientists have learned that gaseous carbon dioxide can trigger explosive eruptions. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Social learning: Simulation model shows how groups can keep important information within and across generations

One of the most actively debated questions about human and nonhuman culture is this: Under what circumstances might we expect culture, in particular the ability to learn from one another, to be favored by natural selection? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Ravaged by fire, Mojave Desert's famed Joshua trees may be gone forever

A wildfire burning near the California-Nevada border has ravaged parts of the Mojave National Preserve's famed Joshua tree forests, and experts worry that the massive blaze will forever change the fragile desert ecosystem. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Dogs with less complex facial markings found to be more expressive in their communication with humans

The domestication of canines and their co-evolution with humans has fostered an incredibly unique relationship with these animals. Over time, our four-legged friends have adapted well to understanding human modes of communication, both verbal and nonverbal. However, researchers a … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Plastic litter in oceans overestimated but could persist longer than expected, study suggests

There is less plastic littering the ocean than scientists previously thought, but what is there could persist for a long time, a new study said Monday. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Sharks along Nantucket: A researcher has tagged 100-plus sharks there as population rebounds

While much of the shark focus is centered on great whites along Cape Cod this time of year, another shark species has been making waves in recent years off of Nantucket. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Public interest vs. private homes: Climate change and erosion fuel disputes along Lake Michigan's shoreline

Steve Coombs' lakefront home used to quake when waves crashed along Ogden Dunes' receding shoreline. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Novel research takes marine conservation tools to a new dimension

In the new article "Incorporating multidimensional behavior into a risk management tool for a critically endangered and migratory species" published in Conservation Biology, researchers combined data on the diving behavior of East Pacific leatherbacks with data on fishing effort … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Spooky, stealthy night hunters: Revealing the wonderful otherworld of owls

The calls of owls come to me most nights through the open window of my bedroom. Mostly it is the soft, repeated, rhythmic "more … pork, more … pork" of a pair of boobooks. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Climate change threatens shaligrams, sacred fossils worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists for more than 2,000 years

For more than 2,000 years, Hinduism, Buddhism and the shamanic Himalayan religion of Bon have venerated shaligrams—ancient fossils of ammonites, a class of extinct sea creatures related to modern squids. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

One of 2023's most extreme heat waves is happening in the middle of winter

Temperatures in parts of Chile and northern Argentina have soared to 10°C–20°C above average over the last few days. Towns in the Andes mountains have reached 38°C or more, while Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, saw temperatures above 30°C—breaking its previous August record by … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Research reveals online romance scammers' tactics, and how to defend against them

In the Netflix documentary "The Tinder Swindler," victims exposed notorious con artist Simon Leviev, who posed as a wealthy diamond mogul on the popular dating app Tinder to deceive and scam numerous women out of millions of dollars. Leviev is a flashy example of a dating scammer … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Nanoscale 'tattoos' for individual cells could provide early warnings for health problems

Engineers have developed nanoscale tattoos—dots and wires that adhere to live cells—in a breakthrough that puts researchers one step closer to tracking the health of individual cells. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Off Miami, scientists put corals to a heat-stress test. It's survival of the fittest

With a gentle pat, Wajahat Shera cemented a four-inch staghorn coral fragment onto a patch of seafloor two miles east of Key Biscayne—one of many planted Friday as part of an unusual undersea experiment being run by University of Miami scientists. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Current estimates of Lake Erie algae toxicity may miss the mark

There is more to a harmful algal bloom than the green stuff in water that meets the eye—specifically, a changing hazard level of toxins produced by the microbes that make up the scummy mess. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Storm Antoni: Why naming storms is a risky business

Since 2015, the UK's Met Office has used forenames to label storms, as a strategy for improving people's awareness of severe weather warnings. The list of names for the 2023 storm season was compiled in conjunction with the Irish forecaster Met Éireann and KNMI, the Dutch nationa … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

How climate change will affect your pet—and how to help them cope

Earth has just experienced its hottest month since records began and Australia is now gearing up for an El Niño-fueled summer. Extreme heat isn't just challenging for humans—it brings suffering to our beloved pets, too. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Is this the protein plant of the future? New study finds 'sweetness gene' that makes lupins tastier

If you walk into a bar in Italy, you might be served a dish of salty, nutritious snacks: lupin beans, a legume that has been eaten around the Mediterranean and in parts of the Middle East and Africa for thousands of years. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

How algae conquered the world—and other epic stories hidden in the rocks of the Flinders Ranges

Earth was not always so hospitable. Evidence of how it came to be so beautiful and nurturing is locked in the rocks of South Australia's Flinders Ranges—a site now vying for World Heritage listing. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Plastic rocks, plutonium, and chicken bones: The markers we're laying down in deep time

Rocks keep time. Not on our human-scale time, but deep time: the almost unimaginable span of billions of years which have already come and gone. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

'Dark brown carbon' in wildfires may have even bigger climate impacts than previously thought

As Canadian wildfire smoke continues to impact large swaths of the United States, resulting in poor air quality and negative health outcomes for millions of Americans, more people than ever are feeling the effects of longer fire seasons and a changing climate. Now, researchers at … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Flock together: Sparrows drift from favored spots after losing friends

Losing long-lasting flockmates may drive a golden-crowned sparrow to stray from its favorite overwintering spot, a new study says, suggesting that friendly, familiar faces help anchor it to familiar spaces. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

J. Robert Oppenheimer's early work revolutionized the field of quantum chemistry, and his theory is still used today

The release of the film "Oppenheimer," in July 2023, has renewed interest in the enigmatic scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer's life. While Oppenheimer will always be recognized as the father of the atomic bomb, his early contributions to quantum mechanics form the bedrock of modern … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Experiments identify important new role of chemical compounds in plant development

Researchers who manipulate lignin, a molecular fiber that allows plants to grow tall and transport water, unexpectedly discovered its synthesis has more far-reaching effects on plant development than previously suspected. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Museum curator identifies the oldest spider fossil ever found in Germany

Jason Dunlop, curator of Arachnida and Myriapoda at the Museum für Naturkunde, in Berlin, has identified a spider held at the museum for several years. In his paper published in the journal PalZ, he describes the features of the spider and also notes that it is the oldest spider … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Stealth swimmers: The fish that hide behind other fish to hunt

A new study provides the first experimental evidence that the trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus, can conceal itself by swimming closely behind another fish while hunting—and reduce the likelihood of being detected by its prey. The study, involving collaborators at the University … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Butterflies can remember where things are over sizeable spaces, new study finds

Heliconius butterflies are capable of spatial learning, scientists have discovered. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Using social media to raise awareness of women's resources

The COVID-19 pandemic created a global increase in domestic violence against women. Now, an MIT-led experiment designed with that fact in mind shows that some forms of social media can increase awareness among women about where to find resources and support for addressing domesti … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Lab repeats nuclear fusion feat, with higher yield

US scientists responsible for a historic nuclear fusion breakthrough say they have repeated the feat—this time achieving a greater yield of energy. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Parasites can have a positive effect on biodiversity and can play a crucial role in maintaining it

A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that the presence of parasites in nature is not necessarily negative, and sometimes even helps animals survive. The team of researchers explain: "Thinking about parasites usually brings up negative connotations, such as, 'do they harm th … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Gene grants powerful resistance to resurging plant disease

While wrapping oneself in 100% Egyptian cotton bedsheets is a delightful luxury on a warm summer night, cotton provides much more than breathable, soft fabric. In addition to textiles, the cotton plant is grown for food, fuel, and daily-use consumer products—such as coffee filter … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Adapting to water temperature changes: The smart 'coat' of the Yangtze finless porpoise

Cetaceans, including dolphins and whales, spend their entire lives in the water. Unlike terrestrial animals, they face greater challenges in regulating their body temperature because water conducts heat 25 times faster than air. However, these clever marine mammals have evolved a … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Roman road network spanning the south west UK identified in new research

A Roman road network that spanned Devon and Cornwall and connected significant settlements with military forts across the two counties as well as wider Britannia has been discovered for the first time. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

New study shows how the Epstein-Barr virus transforms B cells

B cells or B lymphocytes are an important part of the body's immune system. When healthy B cells are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), they undergo growth transformation, a process that immortalizes B cells, leading to their uncontrolled proliferation. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Study reveals successful strategies for removing invasive caimans from Florida Everglades

The spectacled caiman, a species native to Central and South America, has been established in Florida since the 1970s. The pet trade and crocodilian farming industries, escapes and deliberate releases made it possible for caimans to invade the Florida Everglades. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Researchers measure the dangers of indoor heat

Inside a small cinderblock home superheated by the sun, a single mother and her two children rely on an old air conditioning unit for relief from the dangerously hot and humid weather that grips Miami-Dade County. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Animal study shows a father's care could slow aging, alter brains and behavior

Fathers who pay attention and care for their sons can mold their progeny's developing nervous system and influence their offspring's future behavior, according to University of Virginia researchers who studied rodent parents and pups. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Sports media use linked to belief in rape myths

Young men in a recent study who were regular consumers of sports media were more likely to accept rape myths, a set of false and prejudiced beliefs that can serve to excuse or downplay sexual assault. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Keeping water-treatment membranes from fouling out

When you use a membrane for water treatment, junk builds up on the membrane surface—a process called fouling—which makes the treatment less efficient. In a new study, published in the Journal of Membrane Science, researchers studied how membranes are fouled by interactions betwee … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Estuaries as climate gas hotspots

Nitrous oxide has a much stronger effect on the climate than carbon dioxide. Soils, peatlands and rivers are potential nitrous oxide sources. However, when, where and how much nitrous oxide is emitted into the air has not yet been sufficiently researched. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Researchers investigate how a CEO's personality affects corporate culture

Before he became an expert on corporate leadership, Charles O'Reilly spent five years in the U.S. Army. There he witnessed the stark divide between good and bad leaders and realized how much influence they had on the people who worked for them. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Climate change impacts on the Great Barrier Reef could become irreversible

The Great Barrier Reef is likely to face impacts from climate change that could become irreversible around mid-century regardless of whether global emissions stabilize. That is the conclusion of a report published today by the Australian Academy of Science. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Spacecraft, landers and rovers could be recycled for parts on the moon

Additive manufacturing is slowly becoming more and more useful as the technology improves. One of the places it continues its development is in the realm of space exploration. It has long been mooted as an integral part of any in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) efforts and is es … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Winchcombe meteorite is helping scientists to understand more about asteroids

One of the U.K.'s most famous meteorites is helping scientists learn more about asteroids millions of kilometers away from Earth. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Building blocs for diverse investment

A research study in the International Journal of Trade and Global Markets has looked at the effects of the evolution of the BRIC economies to the BRICS bloc and the implications of that transition on investment and global trade. The work highlights the independence of leading eme … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

Discovering nanomachines within living organisms: Cytochromes P450 unleashed as living soft robots

A new study reveals an important discovery in the realm of nanomachines within living systems. Prof. Sason Shaik from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Dr. Kshatresh Dutta Dubey from Shiv Nadar University, conducted molecular-dynamics simulations of Cytochromes P450 (CYP450s … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

NASA's space-based quantum science lab keeps getting better

On Tuesday, Aug. 1, a major hardware update for NASA's Cold Atom Lab lifted off aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station. About the size of a small refrigerator, the lab is sometimes called the coolest place in the known u … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago

New program shows after school hours care can boost children's social well-being

A pilot study shows how after-school-hours care can play an important role in building children's well-being and social connection. The program involves children in the design process and gives them a voice and role to shape their own experience. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 9 months ago