Phys.org news
Phys.org / Physicists develop new method to measure universe's expansion rate
We have known for several decades that the universe is expanding. Scientists use multiple techniques to measure the present-day expansion rate of the universe, known as the Hubble constant. These methods are internally consistent ...
Phys.org / Urine tests confirm alcohol consumption in wild African chimpanzees
Aleksey Maro knows far more than he cares to know about the urination habits of chimpanzees. But if you want to measure the alcohol intake of chimps in a Ugandan rain forest, where a breathalyzer is impractical, collecting ...
Phys.org / Major gap in Earth's rock record likely due to tectonics—not glaciers
The Great Unconformity is a major gap in Earth's geologic record. The missing layer between Precambrian and Cambrian rocks represents a gap of around a billion years of history. Among much debate surrounding the cause of ...
Phys.org / Thunderstorms conjure ghostly coronae in treetops, observed outdoors for the first time
For the first time, researchers have observed and measured weak electrical discharges, known as coronae, on trees during thunderstorms. A new study describes the near-invisible sparkles appearing similarly on branches of ...
Phys.org / Electrical control of magnetism in 2D materials promises to advance spintronics
Conventional electronics process information leveraging the electrical charge of electrons. Over the past few decades, some electronics engineers have been exploring the potential of a different type of device that instead ...
Phys.org / Fast-paced lives demand faster vision: Ecology shapes how 'quickly' animals see time
Animals don't just see the world differently from one another, they experience time itself at dramatically different speeds. That is according to a new study that considered 237 species across the animal kingdom, and which ...
Phys.org / Astronomers inspect ultraluminous X-ray pulsar's magnetic field evolution in the Whale galaxy
Indian astronomers have investigated an ultraluminous X-ray pulsar in the galaxy NGC 4631, designated X-8. The new study, described in a paper published Feb. 16 on the arXiv preprint server, provides essential information ...
Phys.org / Diamond surfaces are covered in thin, ice-like water layers
Using atomic-scale defects in diamond, researchers in China have gained unprecedented insights into the complex chemical processes that unfold at the interfaces between solid surfaces and their surroundings. Published in ...
Phys.org / How AI can improve the quality of peer review
A new AI coach for scientists has been shown to significantly improve the quality of peer reviews, making them clearer and more helpful for authors. Peer review is essential to ensuring the integrity of scientific publications, ...
Phys.org / Color-changing nanopigment sensor tracks pH one to ten with stable, repeatable readings
Chemists in South Korea have created a stable color-changing sensor that displays an easily quantifiable response to the pH of its surroundings. Published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering, Dong-Hwan Kim and colleagues at ...
Phys.org / One of the biggest stars in the universe might be getting ready to explode
One of the largest known stars in the universe underwent a dramatic transformation in 2014, new research shows, and may be preparing to explode. A study led by Gonzalo Muñoz-Sanchez at the National Observatory of Athens, ...
Phys.org / Chemists thought phosphorus had shown all its cards—until it surprised them with a new move
A discovery by UCLA organic chemists may one day put catalytic converter thieves out of business. In new research, they've used abundant, inexpensive phosphorus as a catalyst in chemical reactions that usually require precious ...
