Phys.org news

Phys.org / Debris falling from the sky: More often, more risk

It is still not clear what exactly fell onto a Kenyan village last month, but such events are likely to become increasingly common given the amount of space debris drifting above the planet.

Jan 8, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Graphene technique improves ultrathin film manufacturing for flexible electronics

As the demand for thinner, lighter, and more flexible electronic devices grows, the need for advanced manufacturing processes has become critical. Polyimide (PI) films are widely used in these applications due to their excellent ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Scientists create scalable solution for analyzing single-cell data

Researchers have amassed vast single-cell gene expression databases to understand how the smallest details impact human biology. However, current analysis methods struggle with the large volume of data and, as a result, produce ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Scientists leverage AI to fast-track methane mitigation strategies in animal agriculture

A new study from USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Iowa State University (ISU) reveals that generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help expedite the search for solutions to reduce enteric methane emissions ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Why are lemurs nearly extinct, and yet so diverse?

Lemurs, small, big-eyed primates that live in the trees of Madagascar off the southeast coast of Africa, are a mystery of evolution. When the first ones arrived there tens of millions of years ago, they found an island with ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Rethinking population management in zoos: New policy suggests natural reproduction and culling

Until now, contraception has been the method of choice for zoos to avoid surplus animals. Researchers are now calling for a paradigm shift: zoos could preserve their breeding populations, raise awareness of conservation challenges ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / US company Firefly Aerospace to launch for moon next week

US company Firefly Aerospace said Tuesday it is aiming to launch a lander to the moon next week under an experimental NASA program that partners with the commercial sector to reduce costs.

Jan 8, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Critical metals at continental edges: Research unlocks probable hot spots to support green economy

To transition to a green economy, we require more critical metals such as copper, rare earth elements and cobalt than are currently available. Therefore, we need to find new resources formed in different ways in areas that ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Enhanced dataset connects composition and structure of a complex mineral for carbon storage

Minerals underground may be part of the solution to global climate change. The most famous greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), can react with some minerals found deep underground to form stable carbonates—permanently ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Plant cells gain immune capabilities when it's time to fight disease, scientists discover

Human bodies defend themselves using a diverse population of immune cells that circulate from one organ to another, responding to everything from cuts to colds to cancer. But plants don't have this luxury.

Jan 8, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Herbivore or carnivore? A new toolbox for the study of extinct reptiles

Evolution has resulted in the development of both herbivores and carnivores—but how? What type of food did extinct vertebrates eat? And how can we gain insight into the diets of these creatures? In living animals, we can ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Simulations of supercooled liquid molecular dynamics may lead to higher-quality glass production at lower cost

Glass might seem to be an ordinary material we encounter every day, but the physics at play inside are actually quite complex and still not completely understood by scientists. Some panes of glass, such as the stained-glass ...

Jan 8, 2025 in Physics