Phys.org news
Phys.org / Optical tweezer technique reveals novel disease indicators in aging animals
A new method based on optical tweezers can measure viscoelasticity of biological materials in a simpler and more versatile way. In an article published in Nature Nanotechnology, the researchers report three novel results ...
Phys.org / Scientists uncover key step in how diazotrophs 'fix' nitrogen
Nitrogen is an essential component in the production of amino acids and nucleic acids—both necessary for cell growth and function. Although the atmosphere is composed of nearly 80% nitrogen, this nitrogen is in the form ...
Phys.org / NASA eyes SpaceX, Blue Origin to cut Mars rock retrieval costs
NASA announced Tuesday it may turn to Elon Musk's SpaceX or Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin to help reduce the soaring costs of returning Martian rocks collected by the Perseverance rover to Earth.
Phys.org / Repairing a domestication mutation in tomato leads to an earlier yield
Genome editing with CRISPR-Cas is often associated with the induction of mutations. However, a team of researchers from the Swiss University of Lausanne now shows that it can also be used to repair natural mutations.
Phys.org / Scientists discover a unique microbiome on our planet's roof
The streams draining the glaciers on our planet's mountaintops harbor a wealth of unique microorganisms, yet little was known about these complex ecosystems until recently. A team of scientists led by EPFL has carried out ...
Phys.org / Researchers tune active sites of bimetallic catalysts with atomic precision
Bimetallic particles, composed of a noble metal and a base metal, exhibit unique catalytic properties in selective heterogeneous hydrogenations due to their distinct geometric and electronic structures. At the molecular level, ...
Phys.org / Remotely operated vehicles provide new insights into Mona Rift's seismic risks
Marine and coastal geoscience play a critical role in understanding ancient and modern geological history, offshore and coastal hazards, and climate change. Deep-water environments prevent scientists from directly visiting ...
Phys.org / Physicists explain a stellar stream's distinctive features
Physicists have proposed a solution to a long-standing puzzle surrounding the GD-1 stellar stream, one of the most well-studied streams within the galactic halo of the Milky Way, known for its long, thin structure, and unusual ...
Phys.org / Earth's air war: Explaining the delayed rise of plants and animals on land
If you like the smell of spring roses, the sounds of summer bird song, and the colors of fall foliage, you have the stabilization of the ozone layer to thank for it. Located in the stratosphere, where it shields Earth from ...
Phys.org / Snail darter revisited: Famous fish that halted a dam's construction is not endangered after all
A team of ecologists, evolutionary biologists and resource managers affiliated with several institutions across the U.S. has found that the snail darter, which was famously used by environmentalists in the 1970s to block ...
Phys.org / Sunken worlds under the Pacific? High-res models reveal workings of Earth's mantle
Geophysicists at ETH Zurich are using models of the lower mantle to identify areas where earthquake waves behave differently than previously assumed. This indicates the presence of zones of rocks that are colder, or have ...
Phys.org / Origins of black holes are revealed in their spin, gravitational wave data analysis finds
The size and spin of black holes can reveal important information about how and where they formed, according to new research.