Phys.org news
Phys.org / Timing in early brain growth may explain why closely related mammals build strikingly different cortexes
The outer regions of the brain, the cortex, have specific layers of different cells—neurons—that are similarly ordered among all mammals, from tiny mouse brains to huge elephant brains. However, the proportions of different ...
Phys.org / After the fires: Protecting LA's trees while learning lessons for the future
Southern California is emerging from yet another round of wildfires just as the wildfire season gets underway. It's been less than 18 months since catastrophic wildfires hit the communities of Altadena and Pacific Palisades.
Phys.org / Unsealing cells' 'black box' strategy to regulate gene activation
While scientists have known for more than two decades that all cells use a strategy called RNA interference to regulate gene expression, a new study is the first to describe how a specific protein manages the step-by-step ...
Phys.org / Collective vibrations unlock fast ion flow in superionic crystals
In the race to develop safer, faster-charging solid-state batteries and more efficient thermoelectric conversion technologies, engineers and scientists have long faced a fundamental challenge: how to ensure ions move through ...
Phys.org / Tropical butterflies 'hedge bets' on reproduction as extreme seasons reshape Amazon life
New research from Queen Mary University of London shows how extreme seasonal patterns are causing rainforest butterflies to adapt their reproductive strategies at a rapid pace, with implications for species resilience under ...
Phys.org / DNA reveals hidden UV defense network that dissipates energy in femtoseconds
New details of how DNA protects itself from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation show a hidden network of ultrafast molecular reactions that help prevent damage before it can trigger mutations that might lead to cancer, according ...
Phys.org / Ice may release more iron than climate models predict
Most people think of ice as frozen and lifeless, but research at Umeå University shows the opposite. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrates that ice actively speeds up the ...
Phys.org / Rattlesnakes among most vulnerable to fungal disease and parasitic lung infection
Snakes are threatened with extinction in many places around the globe. Disease, often caused by parasites or fungi, is thought to be one of the key factors alongside habitat destruction. Prominent among fungal diseases is ...
Phys.org / Tiny sesame sea slug species discovered in the waters of northern Taiwan
Translucent, speckled, and barely the size of a grain of rice, a new species of sea slug has been identified in the coastal waters of Keelung, Taiwan. Because of its minute size and distinctive black and yellow markings, ...
Phys.org / Microcrystals in bioluminescent fish scatter light like a prism
Approximately 75% of marine organisms are bioluminescent, with specialized light-emitting organs called photophores. They use the light they produce for various purposes, like attracting mates, luring prey, or confusing predators.
Phys.org / Metal-free method unlocks selective carborane editing for cancer therapy and sensors
Carboranes are molecules composed of carbon, boron and hydrogen atoms that are proving to have applications of great interest in chemistry, materials science and biomedicine. They are being used, for example, in the fight ...
Phys.org / The Southwest's drought is shrinking wildlife's suitable habitat, with predators hit hardest
As people in the United States are coping with historic drought conditions, the country's wildlife is also facing problems because of the extreme aridity. Herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores in the southwestern U.S. have ...
