Phys.org news

Phys.org / Previously unknown detoxification pathway for chloromethane revealed

Chloromethane is a gas that is toxic to humans and contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. It is produced during the combustion of coal, biomass and other raw materials. Natural sources such as algae, plants and ...

50 minutes ago
Phys.org / Predictive surrogates could cut quantum computing measurement overhead by more than 99.97%

Quantum computers, systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, have the potential of outperforming classical computers on some tasks. Despite their potential, the use of these systems remains very ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Mount Etna eruptions reveal carbon dioxide and water can trigger separate explosive paths

The plumbing systems of volcanoes are vast and complex. But they aren't consistent, even in the same volcano. A Cornell-led collaboration found very different mechanisms behind two historic eruptions of Mount Etna in Italy. ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / MUSE maps spiral galaxy W2246f, uncovering old core and ongoing star formation across disk

Astronomers have employed the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to perform deep spectroscopic observations of a peculiar spiral galaxy known as W2246f. Results of the observational ...

3 hours ago
Dialog / Sweet basil carbon dots show potential for sustainable agriculture

What if a common herb found in the kitchen could help farmers grow healthier crops? As the global population grows and agriculture faces increasing environmental challenges, scientists are searching for innovative ways to ...

3 hours ago
Phys.org / Volcanic eruptions linked to rising famine risk across China's history

Large volcanic eruptions may have played a bigger role in triggering historical famines across China than previously understood, according to a new study that traced links between eruptions, climate disruption, and food shortages ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Scientists identify the origin of noise in spin qubit quantum processors

A spin qubit, in which quantum information is encoded in the spin state of an electron, is one of the most promising platforms for quantum computing. Spin qubits exhibit long coherence times and are compatible with advanced ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Saturday Citations: Greenland sharks; quantum weirdness; people are mostly pretty chill

This week, researchers reported that GLP-1 medications may influence the biology of aging. Hidden meltwater in deep Antarctic coastal waters has a strong climate impact. And a novel prostate cancer treatment reduced risk ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Hair-size microrobots combine three cancer-fighting functions in preclinical animal tests

Imagine a future where cancer treatment affects only the tumor, where eye injections are no longer required and brain surgeries don't result in large incisions or long recovery times. That's the future researchers at Michigan ...

4 hours ago
Phys.org / Did this star eat its planets? A new study offers clues on 'chemical paradox' of a binary system

Astronomers have investigated a puzzling binary star system in which two stars that may have formed together now show dramatically different chemical compositions. The new study, uploaded to the arXiv preprint server on May ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / A new strategy for assembling π-conjugated panels into square molecules revealed

A research group has developed a new method for selectively synthesizing three-dimensional macrocycles,⁽¹⁾ in which four panels are arranged in a square, by connecting planar π-conjugated molecules⁽²⁾ at right angles.

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Why do rival plants coexist? The secret is in the soil beneath the oaks

How can plants that compete for the same resources grow in the same area without one driving the other to extinction? Ecologists have been trying to answer this question for decades, and a surprising new explanation has now ...

19 hours ago