Phys.org news
Phys.org / Peptides can form well-defined structures in harsh, Venus-like conditions
When exploring solar system bodies for signs of past or present life, scientists have mainly focused on planets that have (or had) a liquid surface similar to Earth's. However, mounting evidence suggests that the ingredients ...
Phys.org / Important role of plastid ion channels in plant stress response identified
When plants are attacked by herbivores or pathogens, they must respond rapidly while also preparing for potential future attacks. Calcium, a cellular second messenger, and the plant hormone jasmonic acid play important roles ...
Phys.org / Manganese's emission lines shine a light on galactic evolution
In a new study, a team of astronomers has identified wavelengths of light that could be useful for tracing the chemical evolution of the universe. Using computational modeling to simulate how electrons interact with manganese ...
Phys.org / Even small amounts of ocean plastic can affect petrel chicks
Ocean plastic pollution is accidentally on the menu for southern giant petrel chicks. Even small nibbles of it may affect their physiology during development, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, ...
Phys.org / Managing chronic conditions together may be key to longer lifespan, canine study finds
As dogs age, many develop more than one chronic health condition. New research from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) shows those conditions can dramatically shorten a dog's lifespan, ...
Phys.org / Keeping cool saves thousands of lives yearly, but at a cost of worsening global warming, experts say
Cooling from air conditioning saves lives—more than 5,000 a year in the United States alone—but it also heats up the planet and taxes our electrical grid, scientists say.
Phys.org / New gene activation tool may do what CRISPR cannot: Work inside the body
The ability to precisely adjust the expression of genes inside the human body—ramping up protective ones and tamping down harmful ones—holds enormous potential for treating and preventing disease. But the standard molecular ...
Phys.org / Caught right-handed: Mystery of coiling snake embryos explained
An international team led by Canadian researchers has found evidence explaining why snake embryos form a curious spiral. This ability to coil as embryos enables snakes to hatch with the longest bodies of all vertebrates.
Phys.org / Solar orbiter detects ion sorting at the solar wind's magnetic boundary
A Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) study of data from the European Space Agency's (ESA) Solar Orbiter gives the most detailed view of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) to date. The HCS is a sprawling, undulating surface ...
Phys.org / Tiny mirror that controls light in 3D could make microscopes smaller and faster
Researchers use tightly focused laser beams to image biological samples, shape materials with microscopic precision and generate displays. But using those beams in three dimensions requires more than sweeping light from side ...
Phys.org / Loss of kelp forests reverberates down to the microbial level
As one moves north, Maine's kelp forests are being overtaken by dense mats of carpet-like turf algae. The steady decline of kelp and transition into this new state are altering the ecosystem all the way down to the microbial ...
Phys.org / Organic crystal reveals how Joule heating stabilizes resistive switching
Metal-insulator transitions (MITs), in which a material changes from a metallic state with low resistivity to an insulating state because of a change in an external parameter, such as temperature, pressure or an electric ...