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Phys.org / An adolescent growth spurt in young stars helps giant planets form

Stars form in massive clouds of gas called molecular clouds. As they form, they accrete gas from these clouds, and as the stars rotate, gas and dust accumulates in a rotating disk around the star called a protoplanetary disk. ...

1 hour ago in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / Early Parkinson's predictor found in daily step count

Oxford's Big Data Institute and Nuffield Department of Population Health report that daily step counts may help identify who will later be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, with lower activity patterns acting as an early ...

Phys.org / The hexatic phase: Ultra-thin 2D materials in a state between solid and liquid observed for the first time

When ice melts into water, it happens quickly, with the transition from solid to liquid being immediate. However, very thin materials do not adhere to these rules. Instead, an unusual state between solid and liquid arises: ...

2 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Decoding dark matter's imprint on black-hole gravitational waves

A new study by researchers at the University of Amsterdam shows how gravitational waves from black holes can be used to reveal the presence of dark matter and help determine its properties. The key is a new model, based on ...

2 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / Researchers call for clear regulations on AI tools used for mental health interactions

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can converse, mirror emotions, and simulate human engagement. Publicly available large language models (LLMs)—often used as personalized chatbots or AI characters—are increasingly involved ...

1 hour ago in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / Visual system of butterflies changes with seasons, research reveals

The shift from warm summer to cool fall conditions can be stressful for many animals. Surviving each season requires a multitude of different physiological and behavioral traits that scientists are still working to understand.

4 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Human-cat friendship started much later than you think

A research team led by Professor Luo Shujin from the School of Life Sciences has uncovered a surprising chapter in the history of cats in China. Through ancient DNA sequencing of feline remains spanning more than 5,000 years, ...

4 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / X-ray spikes reveal electron beam size

While synchrotron radiation is often thought of as "stable," the electromagnetic field exhibits pronounced randomly fluctuating distributions both temporally and spatially. These fluctuations encode spatial information about ...

2 hours ago in Physics
Medical Xpress / Reaching new heights: Acute mountain sickness associated with blood flow changes

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is common at high altitudes and is often associated with headaches. AMS is theorized to be caused by changes in cerebral blood flow, but this phenomenon is still not well understood. Although ...

Phys.org / Shaping quantum light unlocks new possibilities for future technologies

Researchers from the School of Physics at Wits University, working with collaborators from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, have demonstrated how quantum light can be engineered in space and time to create high-dimensional ...

2 hours ago in Physics
Tech Xplore / Fish-inspired filter removes 99% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater

Wastewater from washing machines is considered a major source of microplastics—tiny plastic particles that are suspected of harming human and animal health. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now developed a filter ...

2 hours ago in Engineering
Phys.org / Using video games to get kids interested in learning

Though some might see video games as a distraction, a recent study from the University of Georgia suggests they can actually serve as a place to practice key science skills—with the help of some adorable cats, of course.

1 hour ago in Other Sciences