Phys.org news

Phys.org / Potentially distinct structure in Kuiper belt discovered with help of clustering algorithm

A vast region of our solar system, called the Kuiper belt, stretches from the orbit of Neptune out to 50 or so astronomical units (AU), where an AU is the distance between Earth and the sun. This region consists mostly of ...

8 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Gelada baboons fake fertility to protect their young from infanticide when new males take over

In nature, it is not usual for animals to be deceptive, as evolution has typically favored communication that benefits both the sender and receiver by conveying reliable information. But, there are exceptions, particularly ...

10 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Final experimental result for the muon still challenges theorists

For experimental physicists, the latest measurement of the muon is the best of times. For theorists there's still work to do.

12 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Maybe that's not liquid water on Mars after all

Ancient Mars boasted abundant water, but the cold and dry conditions of today make liquid water on the Red Planet seem far less probable. However, the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) detected ...

9 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Laser-induced break-up of C₆₀ fullerenes caught in real-time on X-ray camera

The understanding of complex many-body dynamics in laser-driven polyatomic molecules is crucial for any attempt to steer chemical reactions by means of intense light fields. Ultrashort and intense X-ray pulses from accelerator-based ...

8 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Atoms passing through walls: Quantum tunneling of hydrogen within palladium crystal

At low temperatures, hydrogen atoms move less like particles and more like waves. This characteristic enables quantum tunneling, the passage of an atom through a barrier with a higher potential energy than the energy of the ...

8 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / New membrane sets record for separating hydrogen from CO₂

When designing membranes that separate industrial gases, scientists often incorporate structures that attract the gas they want to obtain. This attraction can enhance the membrane's permeability, and help isolate the desired ...

8 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Nanoflowers rejuvenate old and damaged human cells by replacing their mitochondria

Biomedical researchers at Texas A&M University may have discovered a way to stop or even reverse the decline of cellular energy production—a finding that could have revolutionary effects across medicine.

9 hours ago in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Mercury pollution in marine mammals is increasing, new study finds

In 2017, a new global treaty was meant to bring mercury pollution under control. But three decades of data from UK harbor porpoises show mercury is still increasing, and is linked to a higher risk of dying from infectious ...

8 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Mirror symmetry prompts ultralow magnetic damping in 2D van der Waals ferromagnets

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnets are thin and magnetic materials in which molecules or layers are held together by weak attractive forces known as vdW forces. These materials have proved to be promising ...

15 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Understanding intrinsically disordered protein regions and their roles in cancer

Every function in a cell is associated with a particular protein or group of proteins, typically in a well-defined three-dimensional structure. However, intrinsically disordered regions of proteins defy this structure-function ...

8 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Male green hermit hummingbirds: Bills evolved for battle

Let's get one thing out of the way: All hummingbirds fight. Most species fight for food, using their tiny bodies and sharp bills to force competitors away from flowers. But the green hermit hummingbird, which lives primarily ...

9 hours ago in Biology