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Phys.org / Stretchy plastics conduct electricity via tiny, whisker-like fibers

A stretchy, conductive type of plastic could help power the next generation of implantable biomedical devices, like longer-lasting pacemakers or glucose monitors, according to Enrique Gomez, professor of chemical engineering ...

21 hours ago in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / How the echolocation of bats has shaped their skulls

Bats are some of the most highly specialized mammals to have ever evolved. This includes not only the evolution of active flight, but also their echolocation. This ability requires the bats to produce high frequency noises ...

21 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Missing geomagnetic reversals: Earth's past may be incomplete

Several studies have predicted that not all geomagnetic reversals have been discovered, but it was unknown in which periods they might be hidden. Researchers led by the National Institute of Polar Research used a statistical ...

22 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Ultra-efficient optical sensors can keep light circulating longer inside a microscopic chip

CU Boulder researchers have built high-performing optical microresonators, opening the door for new sensor technologies. At its simplest form, a microresonator is a tiny device that can trap light and build up its intensity. ...

22 hours ago in Physics
Medical Xpress / Silencing bacteria can actually worsen heart infections, study reveals

A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have challenged the widely held assumption in infectious disease research that blocking bacterial communication ...

Phys.org / Staple crops are a major contributor to global deforestation, says study

Rice, maize, and cassava crops cumulatively account for approximately 11% of total global deforestation—exceeding that of cocoa, coffee, and rubber—according to an analysis between 2001 and 2022, published in Nature Food. ...

12 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Why laws named after tragedies win public support

When lawmakers name bills after victims of tragedy—such as Megan's Law or the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993—public support surges, but this emotional boost may come at the expense of sound policymaking, ...

22 hours ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Multinational companies could drive climate action better than governments

With the current U.S. federal administration abandoning its leadership role in the fight against climate change, international efforts by governments to mitigate global warming appear to have stalled, at least for now. But ...

13 hours ago in Earth
Medical Xpress / Oxytocin-sensitive brain circuit may keep social bonds active under stress

The neuropeptide oxytocin is a special messenger substance that nerve cells use to communicate with each other. It is acting as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone and is best known for promoting social behavior. However, ...

13 hours ago in Psychology & Psychiatry
Medical Xpress / Dry powder inhalers can improve patient outcomes and lower environmental impact

New research from UCLA Health suggests that certain inhalers used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not only less harmful to the environment but can also lead to slightly better patient outcomes. Inhalers ...

12 hours ago in Inflammatory disorders
Medical Xpress / Microplastics discovered in prostate tumors

Small fragments of plastic were found in 9 out of 10 patients with prostate cancer, and in higher levels inside tumors than in nearby noncancerous tissue, a new study finds. The small, single-center study was led by researchers ...

14 hours ago in Oncology & Cancer
Medical Xpress / Preclinical or clinical? New obesity definition could reshape diagnosis and prevention

An international research group has examined how many people are affected by preclinical and clinical obesity and what health risks are associated with this. The team led by Prof. Matthias Schulze from the German Institute ...

14 hours ago in Overweight & Obesity