Phys.org news

Phys.org / Even moderate heat waves can depress sea urchin reproduction along the Pacific coast

Biologists thought that marine heat waves lowered urchin reproduction only at lethal temperatures. A new study shows reproductive shutdown even earlier.

39 minutes ago in Biology
Phys.org / Fighting poverty may require cultural wisdom, not just cash

Most poverty-fighting efforts focus on meeting basic material needs, such as food and shelter. But this overlooks the psychological and cultural factors that shape how people take action in their lives.

38 minutes ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Shocked galaxy clusters: Unraveling the mysteries of radio relics

Galaxy clusters are the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe, with each containing hundreds or even thousands of galaxies. When two of these giants collide, they send powerful shock waves through one another, ...

1 hour ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / HD⁺ ions cooled to 18 mK yield most precise vibrational-rotational spectra to date

A research team from the Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology (APM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has made significant progress in precisely measuring the vibrational-rotational spectra ...

1 hour ago in Physics
Phys.org / Catalyst turns methane into bioactive compounds for the first time

Natural gas—one of the planet's most abundant energy sources—is primarily composed of methane, ethane, and propane. While it is widely burned for energy, producing greenhouse gas emissions, scientists and industries have ...

32 minutes ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Ancient condors thrived on Peru's northern coast before retreating to the highlands, study reveals

In a recent study, Dr. Weronika Tomczyk and her colleagues conducted a zooarchaeological and isotopic study of ancient Andean condor bones from an archaeological site Castillo de Huarmey, providing the first and earliest ...

7 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Mosquito reproduction may hinge on E93 gene that links blood meals to energy use

Mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, continue to pose a significant global health threat, infecting millions of people annually. Yet current control efforts face growing challenges, driven by ...

2 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / AI math genius delivers 100% accurate results

At the 2024 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), one competitor did so well that it would have been awarded the Silver Prize, except for one thing: it was an AI system. This was the first time AI had achieved a medal-level ...

3 hours ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Offsetting blue carbon benefits: Mangrove tree stems identified as previously underestimated methane source

Mangrove ecosystems rank among the most efficient "blue carbon" systems on Earth, capable of absorbing and storing vast quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). However, mangroves also release methane (CH4), a potent ...

2 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / ALMA resolves close companion orbiting giant red star

Close companions can influence stellar evolution in many ways. While some companions can be detected around young stellar objects, direct observational evidence of companions around asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars or ...

4 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Controlling triple quantum dots in a zinc oxide semiconductor

Quantum computers have the potential to solve certain calculations exponentially faster than a classic computer could, but more research is desperately needed to make their practical use a reality. Quantum computers use a ...

4 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / World's oldest RNA extracted from woolly mammoth

Researchers from Stockholm University have—for the first time ever—managed to successfully isolate and sequence RNA molecules from Ice Age woolly mammoths. These RNA sequences are the oldest ever recovered and come from ...

2 hours ago in Biology