Phys.org news
Phys.org / Intense sunlight reduces plant diversity and biomass across global grasslands, study finds
The sun is the basis for photosynthesis, but not all plants thrive in strong sunlight. Strong sunlight constrains plant diversity and plant biomass in the world's grasslands, a new study shows. Temperature, precipitation, ...
Phys.org / Why elite chess ratings get stuck: A new model treats draws as data
Here's a statistical challenge worthy of a grandmaster: How do you create an accurate ranking system when the best players usually don't win? This is the conundrum of elite chess. The stronger the players, the greater the ...
Phys.org / People act more helpfully in poor environments than rich ones, research reveals
People are more likely to act helpfully in situations where there are poorer choices to give to others, according to a new study that tested willingness to help others in different contexts.
Phys.org / Muon Knight shift reveals the behavior of superconducting electron pairs
Quantum materials and superconductors are difficult enough to understand on their own. Unconventional superconductors, which cannot be explained within the framework of standard theory, take the enigma to an entirely new ...
Phys.org / Seeing the whole from a part: Revealing hidden turbulent structures from limited observations and equations
The irregular, swirling motion of fluids we call turbulence can be found everywhere, from stirring in a teacup to currents in the planetary atmosphere. This phenomenon is governed by the Navier-Stokes equations—a set of ...
Phys.org / Mitochondrial superoxide signal helps preserve the nuclear envelope and delay aging, study finds
The nuclear envelope (NE) is a dynamic and selective barrier that organizes genome function and nucleocytoplasmic communication, and its structural deterioration is a hallmark of aging associated with diverse human diseases. ...
Phys.org / Bioengineers build branched, perfusable kidney collecting ducts using 3D bioprinting
The human kidney filters about a cup of blood every minute, removing waste, excess fluid, and toxins from it, while also regulating blood pressure, balancing important electrolytes, activating Vitamin D, and helping the body ...
Phys.org / Ultra-clean MXenes deliver 160-fold higher conductivity
An international team of researchers has developed a breakthrough method for producing MXenes—an important family of two-dimensional materials—with unprecedented purity and control. The new "gas–liquid–solid" process ...
Phys.org / Wireless sensor assesses subsoil health in effort to cut costs and refine farming
A new smart platform invented by Purdue University researchers to wirelessly monitor subsoil health could change the landscape of agricultural sensing systems. The invention addresses a critical need in agriculture nationwide: ...
Phys.org / Bee bandits: How a yeast influences nectar-robbing behavior in bumble bees
From fundamental biological units as tiny as genes to complex societies, ecological systems rely on cooperation. All manner of organisms can benefit from working together to survive in a dog-eat-dog world. "Mutualism is a ...
Phys.org / First evidence of a subsurface lava tube on Venus
Volcanic activity is not unique to Earth: traces of volcanic activity, such as lava tubes, have been found on Mars and the moon. Now, the University of Trento has demonstrated the existence of an empty lava tube even in the ...
Phys.org / Deep-sea microbes get unexpected energy boost from marine snow, researchers discover
For many years, the deep ocean has been seen as a nutrient-poor environment where microbes living in the water survive on very limited resources. But new research from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) challenges that ...
