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Phys.org / Intensifying droughts may be pushing tropical forests toward a dangerous threshold
Tropical forests, often described as the lungs of the planet, may be edging closer to a dangerous threshold as droughts become more frequent and widespread across the world's humid tropics. New research suggests these ecosystems ...
Phys.org / Twisted WSe₂ reveals elusive charge-neutral quantum modes
Quantum materials, materials with properties that are influenced by the laws of quantum mechanics, have attracted considerable attention over the past few decades. Their unique properties make these materials advantageous ...
Phys.org / Ancient Arctic fossils uncover three mammal species that survived months of darkness
Today's Arctic may feel remote and desolate, but more than 70 million years ago, it was a surprisingly lively place for some of Earth's ancient mammals.
Phys.org / Mathematical analysis reveals a hidden 'golden rule' in abstract art
A mathematical method borrowed from topology can reveal structural properties of visual art that correspond to how people perceive and respond to them, according to a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology by Jacek ...
Phys.org / Sea levels rising dramatically in some areas due to land subsidence
Densely populated coastal regions in many parts of the world are particularly vulnerable to flooding. The sinking of land masses exacerbates the impacts of rising sea levels in these areas, according to a study by researchers ...
Phys.org / Nondestructive DNA sampling reveals 1,300 years of secrets in historic parchments
Researchers have demonstrated a nondestructive way to collect cellular material from historical parchment manuscripts, allowing them to conduct genetic analyses that offer new insights into everything from trade routes to ...
Phys.org / Neanderthals gathered shellfish using the same strategies as modern humans, study finds
Neanderthal populations in southern Europe collected shellfish throughout the year, with a marked preference for the colder months, according to a new international study led by researchers from the Institute of Environmental ...
Phys.org / Galactic collision may have reset Milky Way disk 11 billion years ago
A new study led by researchers at the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) reveals how the disks of galaxies like the Milky Way are affected ...
Phys.org / Kenya's new poaching problem: Smuggling Giant Harvester Ants
Kenyan ant expert Dino Martins gushes over the red and black insects that have become the center of an international smuggling trade.
Phys.org / People overestimate how confident AI systems are in their responses, experiments reveal
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly conversational agents such as ChatGPT or Gemini, are now used daily by a growing number of people worldwide. While many users trust the answers of AI agents to their queries, ...
Phys.org / Behold the neuron, a complicated cell with a simple mission
Neurons, the uber-connected nerve cells that act as a main switchboard for the brain, are central to some incredibly complicated processes. They make it possible to think, walk, speak, and breathe. They even have built-in ...
Phys.org / eROSITA discovers a 'changing-look' Seyfert galaxy
Astronomers have tracked a dramatic "changing-look" active galactic nucleus (AGN) whose central supermassive black hole appeared to switch off and then rapidly reignite. The galaxy, HE 1237−2252, dimmed in X-rays by a factor ...