Phys.org news
Phys.org / How a strange fruit fly became a bloodthirsty underwater hunter
A carnivorous fruit fly living in bubbling African streams may sound like a fever dream. However, with the help of DNA analysis of a pinned insect from a museum in Zurich, researchers have managed to draw an evolutionary ...
Phys.org / Nanoparticles overcome drug-resistant cancer via sequential drug release and photothermal therapy
Cancer cells frequently develop the ability to expel anticancer drugs before they can work—a phenomenon called multidrug resistance (MDR)—which is one of the leading reasons why chemotherapy fails in patients. Research published ...
Phys.org / Metamorphosis in newts proves costly, with one sex paying a heavier price
Metamorphosis, that profound transformation enabling certain animals to shift between habitats such as from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment, is generally viewed in terms of its benefits. A team of researchers from ...
Phys.org / This anti-CRISPR stops the protein assembly line in bacteria
Bacteria fend off invading viruses with molecular scissors that slice up viral DNA—a system called CRISPR that's become indispensable to gene editing. But viruses can fight back with a molecular trick that stops the scissors ...
Phys.org / Lab-evolved cyanobacteria survive minute-by-minute light swings, offering clues to hardier crops
Plant scientist Dario Leister and his team are investigating how cyanobacteria adapt to rapidly changing light intensities. This could help optimize photosynthesis in crops. Photosynthesis is one of the most complex processes ...
Phys.org / One fifth of flowering plant evolutionary history is at risk of extinction, experts warn
In a new study published in the journal Science, researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and their international collaborators including Boise State University present the first ...
Phys.org / Testing quantum collapse theory with the XENONnT dark matter detector
Theories of quantum mechanics predict that some particles can exist in superpositions, which essentially means that they can be in more than one state at once. When a particle's state is measured, however, this superposition ...
Phys.org / Modern experiments suggest rhino teeth may have been part of Neanderthal toolkits
Neanderthals may not only have feasted on rhinoceroses, they may also have used their exceptionally hard teeth as specialized tools for a range of tasks, such as retouching the edges of stone tools.
Phys.org / Streetlights trigger bizarre 'death spirals' in thousands of isopods, scientists find
A new study led by Ph.D. student Idan Sheizaf, under the guidance of Prof. Ariel Chipman from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has documented a never-before-seen behavioral phenomenon: thousands of land-dwelling isopods ...
Phys.org / Mobile qubits on a chip move us a step closer to everyday quantum computers
For years, quantum computers have lived under a huge bubble of hype, promising to revolutionize numerous fields, from medicine and battery design to materials science and cybersecurity. But realizing their potential on any ...
Phys.org / Ultrasound waves rupture COVID-19 and flu viruses without damaging cells
Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have discovered that high-frequency ultrasound waves similar to those used in medical exams can eliminate viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 without damaging human ...
Phys.org / Rapidly melting Antarctic ice shelves may cause global sea levels to rise far faster than expected
Global sea levels may rise faster than previously expected, suggests a new study in Nature Communications. The reason is that warming oceans appear to be melting Antarctic ice shelves from below much more rapidly than expected.