Phys.org news
Phys.org / Brain's GPS hasn't changed in millions of years: Specialized neurons may be vital to evolutionary survival
The same brain cells linked to disorientation in Alzheimer's disease have been preserved—and even slightly increased—across millions of years of evolution.
Phys.org / Plants use engineering principles to push through hard soil
Across the globe, soil compaction is becoming an ever more serious challenge. Heavy vehicles and machinery in modern agriculture compress the soil to such an extent that crops struggle to grow. In many regions, the problem ...
Phys.org / Starquakes reveal red giant's turbulent history and rapid spin in black hole system
Astronomers from the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) have uncovered the turbulent past of a distant red giant by listening to its celestial "song." Subtle variations in the star's brightness suggest that ...
Phys.org / Corral technique measures fragile quantum states in magnet-superconductor hybrids from afar
Hybrid materials made of magnets and superconductors give rise to fascinating quantum phenomena, which are so sensitive that it is crucial to measure them with minimal interference. Researchers at the University of Hamburg ...
Phys.org / Life in balance: Ancient Andean scales illuminated by new research
New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered how Incas used Andean balance scales and ancient string knot writing known as "khipus," in association with sacred, animate landscapes.
Phys.org / New deep-learning tool can tell if salmon is wild or farmed
A paper published in Biology Methods and Protocols, finds that it is now possible to distinguish wild from farmed salmon using deep learning, potentially greatly improving strategies for environmental protection. The paper ...
Phys.org / Public trust in science eroded by UN climate change language, study suggests
The United Nations' climate change body may unintentionally be eroding public trust in science because of the way it communicates risk, new University of Essex research shows.
Phys.org / Counting salmon is a breeze with airborne eDNA
During the annual salmon run last fall, University of Washington researchers pulled salmon DNA out of thin air and used it to estimate the number of fish that passed through the adjacent river. Aden Yincheong Ip, a UW research ...
Phys.org / Global bird study reveals declining ecosystem resilience
Human-driven changes to landscapes worldwide are 'thinning out' the ecological services supplied by wild birds, eroding the functions that support stable and resilient ecosystems.
Phys.org / Helping to grow plants in space for NASA missions to the moon and mars
Imagine biting into a crisp, garden-fresh salad and savoring juicy strawberries for dessert. But instead of your backyard, you're gazing out at a stark lunar landscape, Earth hanging like a precious blue marble in the inky ...
Phys.org / Sensor-integrated food wrapper can facilitate real-time, non-destructive detection of nutritional components
Food quality and safety are crucial. However, conventional food-monitoring methods, including ribotyping and polymerase chain reaction, tend to be destructive and lengthy. These shortcomings limit their potential for broad ...
Phys.org / Meteorite crater hosts methane-making microbes—a clue to life on Mars?
Scientists have discovered living microbes producing methane in the fractured rocks deep inside Sweden's Siljan impact crater, offering insights into Earth's earliest life and the search for life beyond our planet.
