Articles by Krystal Kasal
Tech Xplore / Safer sodium battery eliminates thermal runaway with a heat-triggered polymer barrier
Some batteries have been known to catch fire or explode at high temperatures or when under stress. This safety concern has pushed researchers to experiment with different ways to design safer batteries that can ideally still ...
Phys.org / Three Himalayan predators coexist by partitioning prey, reducing direct competition
Snow leopards, leopards, and Himalayan wolves all share similar stomping grounds in Nepal's Lapchi Valley in the Himalayas. A recent study, published in PLOS One, has taken a closer look at how these apex predators have found ...
Phys.org / Tiny African fish caught climbing to the top of a 50-foot waterfall
For over half a century, people in Central Africa have told tales of the fish seen climbing waterfalls, but these claims have never been officially confirmed. Now, these fish have finally been caught on camera, studied more ...
Phys.org / Engineered tobacco plant can produce five psychedelics, including psilocybin and DMT
Compounds in psychedelic drugs like DMT, psilocybin, and psilocin are naturally produced in certain plants, fungi, and animals, and have a long history of use in spiritual and therapeutic contexts. Now, a considerable amount ...
Phys.org / High nickel concentrations in Martian bedrock point to potential biosignatures
In 2024, NASA's Perseverance rover found surprising levels of Nickel in the Martian bedrock of an ancient river channel, called Neretva Vallis, which flowed into the Jezero crater. A new study, published in Nature Communications, ...
Medical Xpress / New, more effective delivery method for eye cancer treatment is derived from pig semen
Getting past the barrier surrounding the eye is a difficult but necessary part of treating retinoblastoma (RB)—a form of eye cancer that is more common in children. Once the barrier is penetrated, RB responds well to treatment. ...
Phys.org / Silicon quantum computer performs logical operations for the first time
Silicon is ubiquitous in modern electronics, and now it is becoming increasingly useful in quantum computing. In particular, silicon's compatibility with existing chip technology and its long coherence times in silicon-based ...
Phys.org / Major volcanic eruptions might be driven by gas dissolving back into magma
Understanding what triggers large volcanic eruptions is crucial for hazard assessment, but the exact mechanism driving these eruptions is still poorly understood. The prevailing theory is that volatile exsolution—gas coming ...
Phys.org / Earth's magnetic field creates a previously undetected pocket of protection from radiation on the moon
High-energy particles called galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) bombard unprotected objects in space, often causing damage. Earth, however, is protected by its magnetic field, which creates a protective shell around the planet that ...
Medical Xpress / Adversarial AI framework reveals mechanisms behind impaired consciousness and a potential therapy
Consciousness, and the ways in which it can become impaired after certain brain injuries, are not well understood, making disorders of consciousness (DOC), like coma, vegetative states and minimally conscious states difficult ...
Phys.org / Continued monitoring of sunken Soviet submarine shows ongoing radioactive leakage, but little impact
In 1989, the Soviet nuclear-powered attack submarine Komsomolets sank to the bottom of the Norwegian Sea, along with its nuclear reactor and two nuclear warheads onboard. Komsomolets was constructed with a titanium alloy ...
Phys.org / Python scales host microstructures that block bacterial biofilms—revealing potential for antimicrobial materials
Materials inspired by nature, or biomimetic materials, are nothing new. Scientists have designed water-resistant materials inspired by lotus leaves and rose petals, unsinkable metals based on the air-trapping, buoyant abilities ...
Phys.org / Two buried Iron Age hoards reveal first evidence for four-wheeled wagons in Britain
In 2021, a man named Peter Heads made a fascinating discovery while using his metal detector in Melsonby, North Yorkshire in the UK. The find prompted him to contact Tom Moore at the Department of Archaeology at Durham University, ...
Tech Xplore / Humanoid robot learns impressive tennis skills from imperfect human motion
Roboticists have struggled to get humanoid robots to effectively replicate athletic sports skills, such as those needed for tennis. These sports require highly dynamic motion, quick reactions, and high precision that robots ...
Phys.org / Platypus fur adds another strange feature to an increasingly long list
The combination of a beaver-like body and duck-like bill of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is only the first of a long list of strange features on this unique creature. These odd mammals also lay eggs, have venomous ...
