Phys.org news
Phys.org / Bitcoin investor buys an entire SpaceX flight for the ultimate polar adventure
A bitcoin investor who bought a SpaceX flight for himself and three polar explorers blasted off Monday night on the first rocket ride to carry people over the North and South poles.
Phys.org / Fixing cracks in space bricks with bacteria
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a bacteria-based technique to repair bricks that can be used to build lunar habitats if they get damaged in the moon's harsh environment.
Phys.org / Binding to surface sugars enhances omicron variant's cell attachment, researchers discover
Researchers at Umeå University have discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 variant omicron has developed a stronger binding to human lung cells through optimized interaction with heparan sulfate, a sugar molecule on the cell surface. ...
Dialog / Revolutionizing 3D vision: How miniaturized snapshot polarization imaging is transforming depth sensing
Capturing precise 3D details with a single camera has long been a challenge. Traditional methods often require complex dual-camera setups or specialized lighting conditions that are impractical for real-world applications. ...
Phys.org / Compostable sensors could help grow impact of digital agriculture
Screen-printed, biodegradable soil sensors that can be composted at the end of their lifecycle could enable farmers to improve crop yields while reducing electronic waste, researchers say.
Phys.org / Controlling quantum light at room temperature with tunable nanostructures and low voltage
The ability to control the color, or emission wavelength, of light from quantum sources is central to the development of secure quantum communication networks and photonic-based computing. However, most systems capable of ...
Phys.org / A starting signal for cell division: Molecular switch ensures that cells divide at the right time
About 100 cells divide every second in our body. A key protein in cell division is a protein kinase termed Plk1, because it activates other proteins involved in this process. Plk1 is also overexpressed in many types of cancer. ...
Phys.org / Newborn warty birch caterpillars defend the world's smallest territory
Some creatures defend territories extending over several kilometers, but when Jayne Yack (Carleton University, Canada) encountered miniature newborn warty birch caterpillars (Falcaria bilineata), she wondered if she might ...
Phys.org / The battle between resilient plants and cunning viruses: Study discovers a novel RNA silencing mechanism
Unlike animals, plants do not possess an adaptive immune system with antibodies or T cells to fight viral infections. Instead, they rely on the RNA silencing system, which serves as their innate immune defense by recognizing ...
Phys.org / Female mosquito salivary glands could unlock key to malaria transmission
Malaria, responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year worldwide, is caused by a parasite transmitted through the salivary glands of female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Phys.org / No technical obstacles to new giant particle collider in Europe: CERN
Europe's CERN laboratory said on Monday that a detailed analysis revealed no technical obstacles to building the world's biggest particle collider, even as critics took issue with the "pharaonic" $17-billion project.
Phys.org / Researchers propose a simple magnetic switch using altermagnets
Controlling magnetism in a device is not easy; unusually large magnetic fields or lots of electricity are needed, which are bulky, slow, expensive and/or waste energy. But that looks soon to change, thanks to the recent discovery ...