All News
Phys.org / A Namib desert beetle runs to stay cool: How scientists solved the puzzle of this unique and speedy species
The Namib desert of south-western Africa can be extremely hot—the surface temperature can be over 50°C. But a surprising number of around 200 beetle species live on its bare, inhospitable-looking sand dunes.
Phys.org / Earth's early sponges were soft: Scientists close fossil record gap
Sponges are among Earth's most ancient animals, but exactly when they evolved has long puzzled scientists. Genetic information from living sponges, as well as chemical signals from ancient rocks, suggest that sponges evolved ...
Phys.org / Urban atmosphere acts as primary reservoir of microplastics, researchers find
Over the past two decades, microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have been recognized as emerging pollutants, detected across every environmental compartment of Earth's system—the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, ...
Phys.org / Why does mint make water taste so cold? A scientist explains
You've just cleaned your teeth, you're feeling minty fresh and ready to climb into bed. You take a sip of water, but the water is icy cold, and your next breath feels cool and crisp.
Phys.org / Combining ecological restoration with climate-resilient agriculture to tackle desertification
Desertification threatens 24% of the world's land area spanning 126 countries and impacts 35% of the global population. Yet mainstream global efforts to tackle desertification prioritize short-term vegetation greening over ...
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 / Early hominins from Morocco reveal an African lineage near the root of Homo sapiens
An international research team reports the analysis of new hominin fossils from the site of Thomas Quarry I (Casablanca, Morocco). The fossils are very securely dated to 773,000 +/- 4,000 years ago, thanks to a high-resolution ...
Phys.org / How rice viruses manipulate plant defenses to protect insect vectors
Planthoppers and leafhoppers not only feed on rice plants but also act as highly efficient vectors for plant viruses, causing substantial yield losses worldwide. Notably, their persistent ability to evade natural enemies ...
Phys.org / The Milky Way's black hole is hiding an explosive past, evidence suggests
Our galaxy's supermassive black hole is famous for being one of the dimmest in the universe. Evidence from a new space telescope shows that might not always have been the case.
Medical Xpress / Restoring mitochondria shows promise for treating chronic nerve pain
For millions living with nerve pain, even a light touch can feel unbearable. Scientists have long suspected that damaged nerve cells falter because their energy factories known as mitochondria don't function properly.
Medical Xpress / Exercise to treat depression may yield similar results to therapy
Exercise may reduce symptoms of depression to a similar extent as psychological therapy, according to an updated Cochrane review that appears in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. When compared with antidepressant ...
Phys.org / Marine geoscientists link warming with ancient ocean 'salty blob'
Climate change has many culprits, from agriculture to transportation to energy production. Now, add another: the deep ocean salty blob.
