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Phys.org / AI prompts offer a new tool for mapping how emotion concepts relate
How similar are "joy" and "surprise"? Conversely, how far apart are "joy" and "sadness"? We naturally organize words that express emotions—such as "happy," "afraid," and "angry"—according to similarities and differences in ...
Phys.org / Legacy of colonial biodiversity exploitation explains poverty in biodiversity-rich countries
Nature provides resources to society, and the diversity of species (think of pollinators, for example) is expected to underpin human economies. So why are the poorest countries also those richest in wildlife, containing a ...
Phys.org / Evolutionary process behind live birth in lizards uncovered
Scientists studying one of nature's greatest reproductive innovations have discovered how some lizards evolved from laying eggs to giving birth to live young. The new research is the first to reveal the evolutionary process ...
Phys.org / 'Ecology of fear' can dramatically change the behavior of blue mussels
For a blue mussel, a good meal does not come entirely without risk. Blue mussels feed by filtering microscopic algae from seawater. But some unwelcome guests can slip in along with their food. Tiny parasite larvae can hitch ...
Phys.org / A viral 'loose cannon' enzyme helps phages shut down bacterial defenses
As antimicrobial resistance grows around the world, novel therapies to counter it become increasingly important. Phages—viruses that infect bacteria—are an exciting avenue of research in this regard, providing a means to ...
Phys.org / Gentle chemical glow helps scientists capture sharper images of living cells
We reach for brighter, better lighting for sharper pictures, whether we're photographing a puppy or a microscopic cell. In most cases, the light comes from outside the object being photographed. A recent study explored a ...
Phys.org / Microbial clocks can accurately estimate time since death across different climates
New research reveals that microbial clocks—forensic tools that track the succession and development of bacteria and fungi involved in decomposition after death—are highly accurate for estimating time since death, or postmortem ...
Phys.org / 'Disarming' discovery could help scientists fight deadly fungal infections
Researchers from Monash University, in collaboration with the University of Warwick, have discovered how the bacterial antibiotic "gladiolin" can disarm Candida albicans, one of the leading causes of life-threatening fungal ...
Phys.org / Shrews exhibit reversible size changes in their skulls and noses to get through the winter
Scientists had previously observed that some species of shrews undergo a form of biological plasticity in which their bodies, skulls, brains and some organs shrink in the winter, then regrow in the spring. Now, a new study ...
Phys.org / Why many birds add fresh plants to their nests remains unclear despite signs of healthier offspring
As they build their nests, many birds are known to interweave dried grasses and other materials with green plants, such as fresh leaves, grass stems, herbs and aromatic leaves. While this behavior is well documented, why ...
Phys.org / Interacting with AI can make people act more like robots
As AI continues to develop at a rapid pace, social robots powered by AI are becoming more commonplace in customer service settings such as retail, hospitality, tourism and health care. But as these robots become smarter and ...
Phys.org / Dark Stars may have left gravitational-wave echoes across the universe
A mysterious background of extremely low-frequency gravitational waves detected by networks of pulsars may carry information about events that began more than 13 billion years ago—including the formation of some of the first ...
