Phys.org news
Phys.org / The Arctic Ocean keeps permafrost carbon firmly locked
Permafrost in the Arctic stores large quantities of organic carbon. When frozen ground thaws or coastal sections erode, this carbon can enter the sea, where microorganisms can break it down and convert it into climate-damaging ...
Phys.org / Cretaceous beetle fossil reveals early evolution of firefly sensory and signaling systems
Scientists have discovered a remarkably well-preserved 100-million-year-old beetle fossil that provides a rare glimpse into the evolution of the intricate sensory and communication systems used by fireflies and their relatives ...
Phys.org / Newly discovered mechanism protects DNA during cell division
Every time a cell divides, it must accurately copy and distribute its DNA between two new cells. However, in some cases, chromosomes do not fully separate, leaving behind thin strands of DNA known as DNA bridges that connect ...
Phys.org / Laying odds on the potential for Martian water near future landing zones
We know Mars has water ice in its polar regions, but astronauts (and their solar-powered equipment!) would much rather experience life closer to Mars' equator. As NASA looks toward landing humans on the red planet, the Planetary ...
Phys.org / Magnetic nanoparticles remove forever chemicals from water
PFAS, otherwise known as forever chemicals, have become commonplace in numerous everyday and industrial products. At the same time, they are some of the most problematic pollutants of our times: They are extremely durable, ...
Phys.org / Optimized magnetic pulses could cut memory switching energy by several orders of magnitude
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) driven by artificial intelligence (AI) are generating data at an unprecedented rate. Every internet search, AI-generated image, recommendation, scientific simulation and large ...
Phys.org / Math shows why your vote may not count the way you think it does
Mathematicians have shown that completely fair elections are—in a sense—impossible. No electoral system can guarantee both that local votes translate directly into local seats and that total seat distribution matches overall ...
Phys.org / Diamond's newfound defect may tame vibrations that hinder quantum light sources
Researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have discovered a new type of quantum light emitter in diamonds that could help overcome a number of challenges ...
Phys.org / Moonquakes could reveal ice buried beneath lunar south polar craters
Finding water on the moon may only be a matter of detecting the right vibrations.
Phys.org / Newly discovered parasite linked to coastal seabird deaths
Along the Gulf Coast, black skimmers have long been a familiar sight—gliding just above the water with their bright orange beaks slicing through the surface to feed.
Phys.org / Inverting the seminar to recover what scientific papers leave out
A scientific paper reads as a clean progression from question to result. And yet, research almost never happens that way. Experiments fail, conversations redirect projects, and none of it survives into print. When the founders ...
Phys.org / Surprising boiling behavior in liquids could advance future space missions
When astronauts travel deeper into space, every drop of fuel becomes critical, and keeping those fuels stable for months or even years is one of the biggest engineering challenges facing future missions. Now, University of ...