Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ancient DNA uncovers unknown group near Americas' land bridge 6,000 years ago
Scientists have identified a new pod of ancient hunter-gatherers who lived near the land bridge between North America and South America about 6,000 years ago.

Phys.org / Coastal Alaska wolves exposed to high mercury concentrations from eating sea otters
In late 2020, a female coastal wolf collared for a study on predation patterns unexpectedly died in southeastern Alaska.

Phys.org / A new pathogenic fungus is threatening bats
One fungus, two species, millions of dead bats: A study published in the journal Nature has analyzed 5,000 samples of a fungus that is responsible for the largest recorded pathogen-caused mortality in mammals. An international ...

Phys.org / Glaphene: 2D hybrid material integrates graphene and silica glass for next-generation electronics
Some of the most promising materials for future technologies come in layers just one atom thick, such as graphene, a sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, prized for its exceptional strength and conductivity. ...

Phys.org / Cosmic ray research helps unravel lithium-7 origin
The origin of lithium (Li), the third element of the periodic table, has long been shrouded in mystery. This element, commonly found in cosmic rays as two stable isotopes, 6Li and 7Li, is crucial to understanding the origins ...

Phys.org / The other great wall? Exploring Asia's Medieval Wall System
Archaeologists have excavated a medieval frontier garrison in Mongolia, suggesting some monumental walls on the Eurasian steppe were not built to defend against enemy attack, but rather to control the movement of people and ...

Phys.org / 'Living fossil' velvet worm species discovered in South Africa's arid Karoo region
In March 2022, Stellenbosch University (SU) student Rohan Barnard was out on a farm in the Swartberg Mountains between Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn, flipping over rocks looking for ants, reptiles and other critters, when he ...

Phys.org / In nature's math, freedoms are fundamental
Numbers have a funny way about them. Young math students are taught various strategies to make problem-solving easier. Comparing fractions? Find a common denominator or convert to decimals. The strategies get more complex ...

Phys.org / A red dot, a 43,000 year old fingerprint, and a stone out of place—potential evidence of Neanderthal pareidolia
In the depths of the San Lázaro rock-shelter in Segovia, Central Spain, archaeologists from the Complutense University of Madrid and collaborators have uncovered a compelling trace of Neanderthal symbolic cognition: a pigment-marked ...

Phys.org / High-resolution metalens doublet microscope enables compact biomedical imaging
Metalenses represent a revolutionary advancement in optical technology. Unlike conventional microscope objectives that rely on curved glass surfaces, metalenses employ nanoscale structures to manipulate light at the subwavelength ...

Phys.org / Plateosaurus tail may have served as a powerful defensive weapon, paleontologists discover
A small team of paleontologists with members from Austria, Germany and Switzerland has found evidence suggesting that a herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Triassic may have used its large tail as a means to ward off predators. ...

Phys.org / Twisting light for memory: New chiral photonic device enables real-time control of light polarization and data storage
As fast as modern electronics have become, they could be much faster if their operations were based on light, rather than electricity. Fiber optic cables already transport information at the speed of light; to do computations ...