All News
Phys.org / Adult female bark spiders produce superior and tougher silk than males do
Dragline silk or major ampullate (MA) silk, the part of a spider's web that forms the main frame and spokes, is one of the toughest materials known to science. That is, it can absorb massive amounts of energy from a sudden ...
Phys.org / Record-breaking cosmic explosion challenges astronomers' understanding of gamma-ray bursts
Astronomers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have helped uncover new clues about the longest-lasting cosmic explosion ever observed, a gamma-ray burst that lasted nearly seven hours. The event, known as ...
Phys.org / Humans rank between meerkats and beavers in monogamy 'league table'
Humans are far closer to meerkats and beavers for levels of exclusive mating than we are to most of our primate cousins, according to a new University of Cambridge study that includes a table ranking monogamy rates in various ...
Phys.org / Earliest botanical art hints at prehistoric mathematical thinking
A new study published in the Journal of World Prehistory reveals that some of humanity's earliest artistic representations of botanical figures were far more than decorative; they were mathematical.
Phys.org / A pioneering study on the feasibility of asteroid mining
Much remains to be known about the chemical composition of small asteroids. Their potential to harbor valuable metals, materials from the early solar system, and the possibility of obtaining a geochemical record of their ...
Medical Xpress / 'Three-hit model' involving genes and environment describes possible causes of autism
A new University of California San Diego School of Medicine study offers a unified biological model to explain how genetic predispositions and environmental exposures converge to cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Phys.org / Quantifying unknown quantum states: Study explores effectiveness of existing methods
Reliably quantifying and characterizing the quantum states of various systems is highly advantageous for both quantum physics research and the development of quantum technologies. Quantifying these states typically entails ...
Tech Xplore / Infant-inspired framework helps robots learn to interact with objects
Over the past decades, roboticists have introduced a wide range of advanced systems that can move around in their surroundings and complete various tasks. Most of these robots can effectively collect images and other data ...
Phys.org / The Hjortspring boat: Partial fingerprint in ancient tar offers rare glimpse into seafaring past
A new analysis of the Hjortspring boat, an ancient wooden plank boat now on display in the National Museum of Denmark, has yielded clues to its potential origin—which has long been considered a mystery, according to a study ...
Medical Xpress / Stress hormones can alter brain networks and strengthen emotional memories
Stress influences what we learn and remember. The hormone cortisol, which is released during stressful situations, can make emotional memories in particular stronger. But how exactly does cortisol help the brain build emotional ...
Phys.org / With feathers into the afterlife: New results on the Bad Dürrenberg shaman burial
The approximately 9,000-year-old grave of the shaman from Bad Dürrenberg (Saalekreis district) is one of the most spectacular finds in Central European archaeology. Excavated under considerable time pressure in 1934, subsequent ...
Medical Xpress / Key chemical in dark chocolate may slow down aging
A chemical found in dark chocolate could slow the rate of biological aging. Research from King's College London has found that the chemical theobromine, a common plant compound that comes from cocoa, could have anti-aging ...
