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Phys.org / A common hydrogel may be built differently than assumed, with big implications for mechanics

A study led by Northwestern University researchers has reported a way to observe hydrogel nano and microstructure while the hydrogel remains fully solvated. The approach reveals that methylcellulose, one of the most widely ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Musicologists map medieval chant tropes to 9th-century political borders

The spread of a particular genre of music reflects the borders between medieval empires in Europe. This is shown by a study conducted by a musicologist at the University of Würzburg, appearing in Transactions of the International ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Wolves kill—and ravens remember where

When a wolf pack runs down its prey, the first on the scene is often the raven. Even before the predators have had time to dig in, the ravens are already in line, waiting to take advantage of the odd scrap of meat that becomes ...

8 hours ago
Tech Xplore / Microscopic metal 'thorns' shed light on how lithium-ion batteries short-circuit

For the first time, scientists have observed how tiny metal "thorns" called dendrites sprout inside lithium-ion batteries, which can cause the batteries to short-circuit. Their findings, published in the journal Science, ...

7 hours ago
Medical Xpress / VR could reduce anxiety for people undergoing medical procedures

Using virtual reality (VR) to explain what to expect ahead of a medical procedure could help patients better understand their treatment and reduce anxiety, a new study suggests. The research was presented at the European ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / We are not alone: Our sun escaped together with stellar 'twins' from galaxy center

Researchers have uncovered evidence for our sun joining a mass migration of similar "twins" leaving the core regions of our galaxy, 4 to 6 billion years ago. The team created and studied an unprecedentedly accurate catalog ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Can rapid evolution 'rescue' species from climate change?

A potted scarlet monkeyflower would die within a few days without water. But multiple natural populations of the species survived an extreme, four-year drought in California, and researchers now know why: The flowers were ...

8 hours ago
Medical Xpress / In a hyperconnected world, shared expectations can shape how negative experiences feel

Imagine waiting in line for a shot when someone who just got one tells you it was really painful. Could hearing that make the shot hurt more? According to a new Dartmouth study, what others say about an experience can shape ...

3 hours ago
Phys.org / How much do nontargeted analyses really see? A model maps chemical blind spots

In a study published in Analytical Chemistry, researchers from the University of Amsterdam's Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) reveal a sobering reality regarding nontargeted chemical analysis. Although ...

3 hours ago
Phys.org / Ancient DNA sequences that control gene function across plant evolution uncovered

A study has traced thousands of conserved regulatory elements back 300 million years, revealing deep principles of plant genome evolution—a discovery that could pave the way for more precise engineering of crop traits.

8 hours ago
Tech Xplore / Human brain and AI speech recognition decode speech in similar step-by-step stages, study finds

Over the past decades, computer scientists have developed numerous artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can process human speech in different languages. The extent to which these models replicate the brain processes ...

13 hours ago
Tech Xplore / AI agents can autonomously coordinate propaganda campaigns without human direction

Imagine it is two weeks before a major election in a closely contested state. A controversial ballot measure is on the line. Suddenly, a wave of posts floods X, Reddit, and Facebook, all pushing the same narrative, all amplifying ...

7 hours ago