Phys.org news
Phys.org / Snow cover on Greek mountains has more than halved in four decades, study finds
Snow cover in the mountains of Greece—an important water source for communities, agriculture and natural ecosystems during the dry summer months—has more than halved over the past four decades, a study has found.
Phys.org / One overlooked mineral may have quietly powered a crucial step toward life on early Earth
Manganese dioxide can convert amino acids into hydrogen cyanide (HCN) without requiring methane, a finding that solves a long-standing puzzle about the origin of this key prebiotic molecule on early Earth. Although HCN is ...
Phys.org / Medieval images may have triggered imagined soundscapes, reshaping how viewers experienced saints
In cathedrals, such as Canterbury Cathedral in England, colorful stained glass and illustrated hagiographies tell the stories of saints through vivid visual narratives, inviting viewers into richly detailed scenes. Sometimes, ...
Phys.org / CRISPR speed patterns can identify multiple viruses and variants simultaneously
As the spread of infectious diseases accelerates, technologies that can accurately distinguish multiple viruses in a single test are becoming increasingly important. KAIST and an international research team have developed ...
Phys.org / Kangaroos chart 'upside-down' evolution
New research led by Flinders University argues thick tooth enamel helped kangaroos chart an unconventional evolution story, compared to the animals of other continents. A 50-million-year natural "experiment" among Australia's ...
Phys.org / RNA-built droplets create customizable organelles inside living cells
Just as the human body relies on organs such as the heart or liver for essential functions, cells depend on their own tiny organs, or organelles, to carry out vital tasks, including transporting nutrients, removing waste, ...
Phys.org / Rare Tyrian purple reveals elite Roman infant burials in York
Two infants buried in Roman York were laid to rest in costly purple cloth normally reserved for emperors and members of the aristocracy, new research reveals. The babies were wrapped in a fine textile of Tyrian purple embellished ...
Phys.org / Tiny fossil shells hold two chemical signals that could skew past ocean temperatures
Tiny plankton shells used to reconstruct past polar ocean temperatures may contain two different chemical stories, a new study by iC3 researchers has found. The work shows that Neogloboquadrina pachyderma, a key species in ...
Phys.org / Massive reef expansion 20 million years ago may explain modern coral life's origins
New research published in Science Advances reveals that the largest expansion of coral reefs in the past 100 million years happened about 20 to 10 million years ago, between Australia and Southeast Asia.
Phys.org / Hemp-based thermoplastic offers a greener alternative to plastic packaging
As the global pollution crisis caused by manufacturing and disposing of single-use plastics continues to grow, researchers have developed a non-toxic plastic alternative derived from the hemp plant—a non-psychoactive type ...
Phys.org / Heat and cold alter how animals fight disease. As the climate changes, this knowledge may be vital
Each animal species has an optimal temperature at which it can metabolize food and its immune system can best fight off pathogens.
Phys.org / Fungi utilize ancient antimicrobial proteins to attack hosts and their microbiomes, plant researchers discover
An international research team led by Cologne-based plant scientist Professor Dr. Bart Thomma from the Institute for Plant Sciences, the Collaborative Research Center MiBiNet and the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence for Plant ...
