Phys.org news
Phys.org / Nasal microbiome: Bacteria compete for scarce biotin, limiting growth of harmful staphylococci
Potentially dangerous staphylococci compete with other bacteria for biotin in the human nasal cavity. This could offer a new point of attack in the fight against the harmful bacteria.
Phys.org / Mapping out the hidden mechanics behind why some fads spread like wildfire
Whether it is a whole friendship group migrating to using iPhones or a swath of classmates wanting the latest Lululemon waterbottle, network scientists have uncovered the hidden mechanics behind social trends.
Phys.org / Urban natives: Plants evolve to live in cities
While urbanization has restricted and fragmented the natural ecosystems, it also creates new and diverse environmental conditions within towns.
Phys.org / Archaea can modify ribosomal RNA to survive extreme heat environments
Hyperthermophilic archaea are true survival experts. They thrive in boiling hot springs and deep-sea vents—environments lethal to nearly all other forms of life.
Phys.org / Researchers reveal key role of interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in molecular clouds
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are important carriers of organic matter throughout the universe. As organic molecules, they play a central role in interstellar chemistry and are closely related to the origin of prebiotic ...
Phys.org / Stick–slip nanopore approach streamlines protein analysis by using electrical 'fingerprints'
A technology developed in the laboratory of Prof. Amit Meller from the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology Faculty of Biomedical Engineering marks a significant advancement toward rapid proteome analysis, with far-reaching ...
Phys.org / Marine viruses hijack bacterial genes to dismantle and exploit energy systems
Marine viruses deploy a sophisticated Trojan horse maneuver that enables them to dismantle the energy systems of ocean bacteria and use the breakdown products for self-replication. This finding comes from a study conducted ...
Dialog / Voodoo economics: How wildlife trade for ritual use is wiping out Africa's vultures
For some people, the mention of voodoo evokes something like a scene from the James Bond novel "Live and Let Die," featuring occult ceremonies with snakes and animal sacrifice. Animal sacrifice was widespread among human ...
Phys.org / Unique aquatic plant has three concurrent CO₂-concentrating mechanisms
A new study led by the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (WBG, CAS) has identified a unique trait in the aquatic plant Ottelia alismoides—it can simultaneously employ three distinct CO₂-concentrating ...
Phys.org / Urban fringe areas show great potential for forest restoration
A study conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP) by researchers from the Nucleus of Analysis and Synthesis of Nature-Based Solutions (BIOTA Synthesis), a FAPESP Science Center for Development (SCD), identified approximately ...
Phys.org / Examining why some species developed consciousness while others remained non-conscious
What is the evolutionary advantage of our consciousness? And what can we learn about this from observing birds? Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum published two articles on this topic.
Phys.org / Polar ice melt offers unexpected solution to a global climate disaster
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of Atlantic Ocean currents that redistributes heat and nutrients between the tropics and the North Atlantic, is one of the planet's tipping points. That means ...
