Sanctions on Russia's businesses haven't worked, says study

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western governments implemented a suite of sanctions on Russian businesses, escalating the sanctions they implemented following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The goal in both cases was to inflict enough pain on Russian elit … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Degradable polyethylene plastics from the nonalternating terpolymerization of ethylene, CO, and polar monomers

In a study published in the journal National Science Review and led by Dr. Zhongbao Jian (State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, CAS), E/CO/PM terpolymerizations were carried out with seven palladium catalysts, which were … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Lessons from 'The Blob' to help manage fisheries during future marine heatwaves

In early 2014, a great anomaly descended upon the seas: A patch of warm water that manifested in the Gulf of Alaska. Scientists called it "The Blob." | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

'Sooty bark disease,' harmful for maples and humans, can be monitored by pollen sampling stations

Especially after the last few COVID-affected years, nobody doubts that emerging infectious diseases can threaten the whole world. But humans are not the only ones at risk. With intensive global trade, many tree parasites are accidently introduced to Europe in packaging or directl … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

A simple solution for nuclear matter in two dimensions

Understanding the behavior of nuclear matter—including the quarks and gluons that make up the protons and neutrons of atomic nuclei—is extremely complicated. This is particularly true in our world, which is three dimensional. Mathematical techniques from condensed matter physics … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Muscle fibers: An unexpected organization revealed in Mediterranean fish

Researchers at the University of Liège, Eric Parmentier and Marc Thiry have just made the unexpected discovery of a novel organization of muscle fibers in Parophidion vassali, a fish that lives in the Mediterranean Sea and, like many fish, uses specialized muscles to produce soun … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Social media posts can be used to track individuals' income and economic inequalities

Striking differences in the content shared by people who live in wealthier versus poorer neighborhoods has led researchers to believe that our general online posting activity, beyond Nextdoor, can reveal our socioeconomic status, making user profiling possible. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Fertilizer study reveals opportunities for increased profitability for mango farmers in Southern Vietnam

Researchers from the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI) have proven that lower application rates of fertilizers do not affect the yield or quality of two mango varieties in Southern Vietnam. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Cell-membrane coated nanoparticles light up two cancer biomarkers at once to give more complete picture of tumor

Cancer surgeons may soon have a more complete view of tumors during surgery, thanks to new imaging agents that can illuminate multiple biomarkers at once, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers report. The fluorescent nanoparticles, wrapped in the membranes of red bl … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New study examines ways to expand nature conservation in the EU

Preserving endangered and typical habitats in Europe with their biodiversity is the goal of Natura 2000, a network of nature reserves established by the EU. By 2030, EU member states want to significantly expand this network. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New study reveals the resilience patterns of human mobility in response to extreme urban floods

Resilience can be interpreted as the comprehensive ability of a system to prepare for, absorb, and recover from external or internal disturbances and shocks. In the context of human mobility, resilience therefore refers to the ability of people's movements within and between citi … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

River diversions may cause microplastics to remain longer on land and in streams before reaching oceans

Diverting streams and rivers to irrigate crops or provide drinking water may significantly extend the time microplastics spend in river catchments before they flow into our oceans, a new study reveals. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Introducing super drought: A new framework and web service

In recent years, the world has witnessed an alarming increase in the occurrence and severity of catastrophic droughts across various regions. While extensive research has been dedicated to understanding extreme droughts, a fundamental question has remained overlooked: What truly … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Human factors affect bees' communication, researchers find

Human influences have the potential to reduce the effectivity of communication in bees, adding further stress to struggling colonies, according to new analysis. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Wearable textile captures energy from body movement to power devices

Nanoscientists have developed a wearable textile that can convert body movement into useable electricity and even store that energy. The fabric potentially has a wide range of applications from medical monitoring to assisting athletes and their coaches in tracking their performan … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Simultaneous multi-material embedded printing for 3D heterogeneous structures

Publishing in the journal International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, the team led by researchers based at the State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems deposited different biomaterials simultaneously and precisely into the yielded region of embedding medium … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Two new snail species discovered in Lake Biwa after systematic revision

Snails may look slow and sleepy, but evolutionarily the freshwater mollusks in Lake Biwa have been busy. However, despite evidence of morphological and genetic variation, new species divergence long went unnoticed. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Bacterial colonization of the lung also depends on the host genome

The lung is by no means a sterile place, as was assumed for a long time. In fact, it actually harbors a diverse microbial ecosystem. We know from previous studies that changes in the lung microbiome are associated with diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma or chronic obstructi … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

CRISPR/Cas9 reveals a key gene involved in the evolution of coral skeleton formation

New work led by Carnegie's Phillip Cleves uses cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tools to reveal a gene that's critical to stony corals' ability to build their reef architectures. It is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

The other side of the story: How evolution impacts the environment

The story of the peppered moths is a textbook evolutionary tale. As coal smoke darkened tree bark near England's cities during the Industrial Revolution, white-bodied peppered moths became conspicuous targets for predators and their numbers quickly dwindled. Meanwhile, black-bodi … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Early universe crackled with bursts of star formation, Webb Telescope shows

Among the most fundamental questions in astronomy is: How did the first stars and galaxies form? NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is already providing new insights into this question. One of the largest programs in Webb's first year of science is the JWST Advanced Deep Extragala … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Quantum computers are better at guessing, new study demonstrates

Daniel Lidar, the Viterbi Professor of Engineering at USC and Director of the USC Center for Quantum Information Science & Technology, and Dr. Bibek Pokharel, a Research Scientist at IBM Quantum, have achieved a quantum speedup advantage in the context of a "bitstring guessing ga … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

World's oldest-known burial site found in S.Africa: scientists

Paleontologists in South Africa said Monday they have found the oldest known burial site in the world, containing remains of a small-brained distant relative of humans previously thought incapable of complex behavior. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Following in the footsteps of early 20th century naturalist Elizabeth Kerr

I am walking in a forest and listening to a concert of birdsong at dawn. I pick one song out of the chorus—a fast chatter full of melodious whistles—the sound of the sooty ant tanager. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Earth's land is drying as it warms, but it is not clear how dry is too dry

When soil moisture is low, evaporation is limited. The conditions of this moisture-limited regime can exacerbate extreme weather events, including droughts and heat waves. In a new study, Hsin Hsu and colleagues quantify how global warming affects soil moisture. Although climate … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Good seaweed news: Sargassum belt has actually shrunk. It may mean cleaner beaches

The ominous mass of seaweed looming in the Atlantic and creeping our way set size records earlier this spring—it was huge. But last month it actually shrank, according to scientists from the University of South Florida. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Peregrine falcons swoop down on bystanders in downtown Chicago

High above the heads of business professionals gathering for lunch downtown Thursday, the tail feathers of a peregrine falcon popped out over a concrete ledge on a large building. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Five incredible craters that will make you fall in love with the grandeur of our solar system

Impact cratering happens on every solid body in the solar system. In fact, it is the dominant process affecting the surfaces on most extraterrestrial bodies today. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Treated wastewater in Victoria is still contaminated, study finds. So are people and the environment safe?

Wastewater is a byproduct of humanity produced all day, every day. At home, wastewater is the used water that disappears when you flush the toilet, empty the sink or drain the washing machine. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Rare wolverine spotted in California is 2nd confirmed specimen in a century

A wild wolverine was spotted multiple times in California last month, only the second specimen to be verified by experts in the past century, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Great white sharks more common off California coast than previously thought, study says

If you swam off the coast of Santa Barbara or San Diego recently, chances are you had company. You just may not have noticed. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

10 Australian companies have embraced the 4-day week—here's what they say about it

Most of us look forward to a rare long weekend. But some Australians now enjoy a four-day week every week. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

NASA, SpaceX launch solar arrays, cargo to space station

Following a successful launch of NASA's SpaceX 28th commercial resupply services mission, two new solar arrays, science investigations, and supplies are on their way to the International Space Station. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Social media snaps map the sweep of Japan's cherry blossom season in unprecedented detail

Social media contains enormous amounts of data about people, our everyday lives, and our interactions with our surroundings. As a byproduct, it also contains a vast trove of information about the natural world. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Webb Space Telescope peers behind barred spiral galaxy NGC 5068

A delicate tracery of dust and bright star clusters threads across this image from the James Webb Space Telescope. The bright tendrils of gas and stars belong to the barred spiral galaxy NGC 5068, whose bright central bar is visible in the upper left of this image—a composite fro … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Predictive models show wildlife managers where to find destructive feral swine

Feral swine are considered one of the top invasive species of concern in North America because of the damage they do to agricultural and natural systems. To best manage them, resource management agencies need to know more precisely where and when to implement control methods. A n … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Implications of no-free-lunch theorems

In the 18th century, the philosopher David Hume observed that induction—inferring the future based on what's happened in the past—can never be reliable. In 1997, SFI Professor David Wolpert with his colleague Bill Macready made Hume's observation mathematically precise, showing t … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Social copying and tipping points mapped on gull population

We've all observed social contagion in humans: When one person laughs, it's hard not to laugh too, or if someone screams "Fire!" in a movie theater, everyone stampedes toward the door. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Study finds search for missing Indigenous women hampered by police apathy

In Canada, research shows Indigenous women are 400% more likely than other Canadians to go missing. The problem is so pervasive that the Canadian government does not know how many Indigenous women are missing or have been murdered. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Discovery of a new animal parasitic euglenid species in rice fields

A detailed investigation has led to the discovery of a new species of parasitic euglenid found in ostracods and other creatures residing in rice fields. This euglenid has undergone a secondary loss of its photosynthetic capability. The infection rate of this parasite among rice-f … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Is frying food possible in space?

The food we eat determines how we feel, and nothing beats a good fry-up, although in moderation of course. As we prepare for missions to the moon and on to Mars, astronauts will be happy to hear from researchers that one staple comfort food is not out of reach, even in space: fri … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Work requirements may not work for domestic violence survivors, but they rarely get waivers for cash assistance

Very few people who have survived domestic violence are getting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) waivers from the work requirements and time limits tied to those benefits—even though they're eligible for them, according to our new research. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

3D scans shed new light on mysterious Roman burial practice

Archaeologists in York have used 3D scans to study the Roman burial practice of pouring liquid gypsum over the bodies of adults and children laid to rest in coffins—the first time this cutting-edge technology has been applied to Roman burials of this type anywhere in the world. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

3D printing near net shape parts with no post-processing

Carnegie Mellon University Professor Rahul Panat, and his team, were developing a new type of 3D printed Brain-Computer Interface (or BCI) device where custom micropillars capture the communication signals from neurons when they stumbled upon an unexpected problem: the micropilla … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

Research identifies why people prefer spontaneity in entertainment

Audiences love to see athletes and entertainers behaving spontaneously, according to our recent research, because ad-libbed lines, spectacular catches, improvised set lists and the like make performers seem more authentic and genuine. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

7 in 10 pupils want an education that helps them tackle the climate crisis, finds UK report

Secondary school pupils feel the climate change education they receive is too focused on passing exams and doesn't equip them with the skills they need to tackle the climate crisis, according to a new report. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

New report underscores importance of microbes in climate change modeling

The American Academy of Microbiology, an honorific leadership group and scientific think tank within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), has released a new colloquium report, "Microbes in Models: Steps for Integrating Microbes into Earth System Models for Understanding C … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago

The digital dark matter clouding AI in genome analysis

Artificial intelligence has entered our daily lives. First, it was ChatGPT. Now, it's AI-generated pizza and beer commercials. While we can't trust AI to be perfect, it turns out that sometimes we can't trust ourselves with AI either. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 11 months ago