Phys.org news
Phys.org / What's that swirly pattern? It's a moiré, and it has potential power
Just as wave-like patterns can appear on a computer screen when pixels do not align, new research led by Flinders University is investigating atomic-scale "moiré patterns" in the promising field of ferroelectricity. The new ...
Phys.org / How an Atlantic island narrowly escaped 'stealthy' eruption
Thousands of earthquakes affecting Portugal's São Jorge Island in the Azores in March 2022 were triggered by a vast sheet of magma (molten rock) rising from more than 20km below Earth's surface and stalling just 1.6km beneath ...
Phys.org / How earthquakes stop: Near-fault records uncover overlooked phase
While analyzing strong-motion data close to fault lines, a group of researchers at Kyoto University noticed something unexpected: a negative phase in the waveforms, a pattern that did not conform to the existing interpretations ...
Phys.org / A molecular 'cork' reveals how cells control growth
How do cells know when to activate or slow down their activity? A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) provides new insights by studying TORC2, an essential but still poorly understood protein complex. Using ultra-high-resolution ...
Phys.org / These 'good' viruses hold up a booming industry—AI just found a faster way to track them
Researchers have developed a new methodology that uses artificial intelligence tools to identify and count target viruses more efficiently than previous techniques. The new approach can be used in applications such as pharmaceutical ...
Phys.org / This flower's toxic traits hold clues for safer drugs
The molecules of a highly toxic plant, known for its bell-shaped purple and pink flowers and found in some home gardens, have long been used to regulate human heart muscles.
Phys.org / Amazon River plume: Where microalgae go carnivorous to win
In the vast plume of the Amazon River, microscopic algae adopt a surprisingly flexible survival strategy: They combine photosynthesis with the uptake of organic matter. An international research team led by the Leibniz Institute ...
Phys.org / E. coli editing technique expands into a universal toolkit for rewriting bacterial DNA
The ability to precisely edit the genomes of bacteria has long been a goal of microbiologists. Such technology would enable scientists to make new inroads into studying disease, developing sustainable materials, and fighting ...
Phys.org / From air to tea: New sensor reveals invisible pollution in minutes
Fine particulate matter in the air or nanoparticles in water—a remarkable new technology developed at TU Wien makes it possible to detect tiny amounts of a wide range of substances in a very short time.
Phys.org / Black grouse eye test reveals best flags to protect birds from fatal cables
There is a silent killer lurking in the French Alps: ski lift cables. Over the last 60 years, the wires have accounted for almost 600 recorded landfowl deaths in the region. Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) account for ~70% ...
Phys.org / Room to move: Neutron scattering shows how proteins behave in crowded environments
Proteins are essential molecules in living systems. They move, interact and organize themselves to carry out a wide range of functions, from helping cells communicate to forming structures inside the cell. In many cases, ...
Phys.org / Gene-sharing view challenged as bacteria shown to police DNA exchange
A new study finds that bacteria can actively block the transfer of beneficial genes to neighboring cells, using specialized proteins to specifically destroy shared DNA before it spreads. This challenges the long-held view ...
