Phys.org news
Phys.org / Mother's breasts may protect a newborn from the cold—a new perspective on breast evolution
Humans differ from other primates due to their relatively large, permanent breasts, and their development has so far not been conclusively explained. According to a study conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, the ...
Phys.org / Ion bombardment triggers a reliable quantum switch in tantalum disulfide crystals
When you toss a coin, you put it into a higher-energy state until it falls back down again. It can then end up in one of two possible states: heads or tails. No matter which state the coin was in before, after the toss both ...
Phys.org / How a 3D-printed synthetic sea lion pelvis enhances veterinary capabilities to counter ongoing beaching
Scores of sea lions continue to beach themselves along the Southern California coastline, stricken with sickness. Toxic algae blooms are to blame, though a mechanical engineering innovation could shift the tide in favor of ...
Phys.org / Lab tests investigate how house fire emissions differ from forest fires
Wildfires have increased in frequency and severity over the past few decades. More fires are burning at the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where homes and other buildings meet the natural landscape—but our understanding ...
Phys.org / Ocean warming drives a nearly 20% annual decline in fish biomass, research confirms
According to a new study by the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC) and the National University of Colombia, chronic ocean warming is driving a nearly 20% annual decline in fish biomass. However, the researchers ...
Phys.org / First cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in northern elephant seals confirmed in California
Seven weaned elephant seal pups in California's Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed ...
Phys.org / Robot pollinator uses computer vision to shake flowers and boost indoor farm yields
Indoor farms, also known as vertical farms, are popular among agricultural researchers and are expanding across the agricultural industry. Some benefits they have over outdoor farms include the year-round production of food ...
Phys.org / An endangered natural pharmacy hidden in coral: Hundreds of reef-dwelling microbes reveal untapped potential
Coral reefs are teeming with life: they are home to over a third of all marine animal and plant species on Earth, despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor. However, this immense diversity is under threat ...
Phys.org / Boat traffic alters marine megafauna behavior, stress and population trends, global analysis finds
A new study provides a comprehensive global synthesis of how vessel traffic affects large marine wildlife, including whales, dolphins, seals, manatees, sea turtles, sharks and rays. The study, "Charting the Course for Management: ...
Phys.org / Celebrity dolphin of Venice doesn't need special protection—except from humans
Bottlenose dolphins usually live in small to medium-sized groups in coastal and open-sea waters, but every once in a while, a dolphin might leave its pod behind, flock to coastal areas and approach human settlements. While ...
Phys.org / AI gets water right: How a hydration shield helps proteins keep their shape
A study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society reports that artificial intelligence can enhance protein stability in an unexpected way—by engineering the water around a protein, not just the protein itself. ...
Phys.org / Which cell measurements matter most? AI tool helps researchers see the bigger picture
Studying gene expression in a cancer patient's cells can help clinical biologists understand the cancer's origin and predict the success of different treatments. But cells are complex and contain many layers, so how the biologist ...