Articles by Krystal Kasal
Phys.org / Seismic study sheds light on factors that led to 2025 Myanmar supershear rupture
Recently, Science put out an article detailing new research on the Myanmar earthquake that occurred on March 28, 2025. In one of these studies, Shengji Wei and colleagues analyze data on the event and provide insight on multiple ...
Phys.org / A problem that takes quantum computers an unfathomable amount of time to solve
It's a well-known fact that quantum calculations are difficult, but one would think that quantum computers would facilitate the process. In most cases, this is true.
Phys.org / Scientists find an explanation for oddball, water-rich exoplanets: They make their own water
As more and more exoplanets are discovered throughout the galaxy, scientists find some that defy explanation—at least for awhile. A new study, published in Nature, describes a process that might explain why a large portion ...
Phys.org / Baleen whales found to excrete nutrients that boost primary productivity in the ocean by up to 10%
Scientists have been aware for some time that whales contribute to marine ecosystems by "recycling" nutrients. However, the exact impact on ocean productivity was unclear and had not been studied quantitatively. A new study, ...
Phys.org / New DNA evidence from Crimea sheds light on Neanderthal migration into Asia
Researchers have long been attempting to piece together the trek of Neanderthals from Europe into Asia around the Middle and Upper Paleolithic time periods. This time marks the eventual disappearance of Neanderthals and the ...
Phys.org / New method can measure ocean acidification using ambient wind noise
Since the Industrial Revolution, scientists estimate that the ocean has become around 30% more acidic from the uptake of additional anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Ocean acidification has widespread effects, including loss ...
Tech Xplore / Safer lithium-ion battery design prevents thermal runaway that can cause fires
Conventional lithium-ion batteries are known to present a fire risk, and can even cause explosions in certain cases. The widespread usage of lithium-ion batteries, in everything from electric vehicles to electric toothbrushes, ...
Phys.org / Record-breaking quantum key distribution transmission distance achieved alongside classical channels
Quantum key distribution (QKD) harnesses the power of quantum mechanics to securely transmit confidential information. When an outside source eavesdrops on a QKD transmission, the quantum states are affected. This dependably ...
Phys.org / Using entanglement to test whether gravity is quantum just got more complicated
Unifying gravity and quantum theory remains a significant goal in modern physics. Despite the success in unifying all other fundamental interactions (electromagnetism, strong force and weak force) with quantum mechanics and ...
Phys.org / Earlier volcano prediction at Mount Etna made possible by new earthquake pattern analysis
Located on the island of Sicily, in Italy, Mount Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Documentation of its many eruptions stretches back as far as 2,700 years ago, with the most recent occurring in June 2025. ...
Medical Xpress / Men experience more brain atrophy with age despite women's higher Alzheimer's risk
Women are far more likely than men to end up with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This may, at least partially, be due to women's longer average lifespans, but many scientists think there is probably more to the story. It would ...
Phys.org / Chicago's viral 'rat hole' was not made by a rat after all, new study finds
After existing quietly for over two decades on a Roscoe Village sidewalk in Chicago, a rodent-shaped indent became an internet sensation in 2024, when a tweet by comedian and writer, Winslow Dumaine, brought it into the public ...
Phys.org / Record-breaking gamma ray burst seems to be caused by a black hole engulfed by a bloated star
On July 2, 2025, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (Fermi-GBM) captured around three hours' worth of signals that appeared to come from the same source. When scientists compiled this data with signals picked up by multiple ...
Phys.org / Lab-boosted olfactory receptor reveals new insights about how our sense of smell works
Humans have about 400 odorant receptors (ORs), but scientists have had trouble finding ligands that match up with most of these ORs in lab settings—leaving them with a murky understanding of how certain smells are recognized ...
Phys.org / By removing common biases, study debunks U-shaped happiness curve with age
Many survey-based studies have been conducted to try to understand how happiness changes over a person's lifetime. While there have been a few different outcomes, the most common has been the U-shaped curve. This pattern ...
