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Phys.org / Engineers create water-saving sand layer to improve plant resilience during drought
The Anasazi, a once-flourishing tribe in the American Southwest, lived on bounties of corn, squash and beans. In 1276 A.D., however, a long, unforgiving drought made agriculture untenable, forcing them to migrate away from ...
Phys.org / Natural hydrogel can make personal hygiene products greener
A natural, superabsorbent material developed at the University of Waterloo could dramatically reduce the environmental impact of personal hygiene products like diapers, menstrual pads and tampons.
Phys.org / Snowflake-like emergence phenomenon discovered in metal nanocrystals
Whether they're tickling your nose, hugging your eyelashes or melting on your tongue, few winter wonders are as fascinating as snowflakes.
Phys.org / Chemistry is stuck in the dark ages: 'Chemputation' can bring it into the digital world
Chemistry deals with that most fundamental subject: matter. New drugs, materials and batteries all depend on our ability to make new molecules. But discovery of new substances is slow, expensive and fragile. Each molecule ...
Phys.org / Swinging abyss: Oxygen isotope analysis shows less dynamic Antarctic ice sheet in Oligocene period
Oxygen isotopes data enable researchers to look far back into the geologic past and reconstruct the climate of the past. In doing so, they consider several factors such as ocean temperature and ice volume in polar regions. ...
Phys.org / Why we trust romantic partners rather than AI when making big financial decisions
Artificial intelligence programs are not only helping us tackle complex challenges like diagnosing diseases and predicting weather patterns, but also assisting with more mundane matters such as correcting grammar and planning ...
Phys.org / The mechanical ratchet: A new mechanism of cell division
Cell division is an essential process for all life on Earth, yet the exact mechanisms by which cells divide during early embryonic development have remained elusive—particularly for egg-laying species.
Tech Xplore / An AI approach for single-image-based 3D character animation with preserved proportions
In Proceedings of the SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 Conference Papers, a research team affiliated with UNIST reports a new AI technology that can animate 3D characters to mimic the exact movements shown in a single 2D image, all while ...
Phys.org / Porous copper nanosheets boost energy output in wearable nanogenerators
In recent years, two-dimensional (2D) single-crystalline metal nanosheets have emerged as a promising next-generation platform for self-powered electronics. However, their potential for triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)—a ...
Phys.org / Why hedgehogs used to be hated
Hedgehogs have been part of human culture for thousands of years. Across different societies, they've been symbols of fertility, protection and healing, as well as fear, superstition and suspicion.
Phys.org / The western US is in a snow drought. Here's how a storm made it worse
Much of the western U.S. has started in 2026 in the midst of a snow drought. That might sound surprising, given the record precipitation from atmospheric rivers hitting the region in recent weeks, but those storms were actually ...
Tech Xplore / Decoding black box AI with human-readable data descriptions and influence
Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning models, are often considered black boxes because their decision-making processes remain difficult to interpret. These models can accurately identify objects—such ...
