Phys.org news
Phys.org / Newfound 'whale necropolis' reveals 5.3 million years of seafloor life
Whale falls form when whale carcasses sink to the seafloor, creating localized concentrations of biodiversity in the deep ocean. Besides playing a role in long-term carbon sequestration, whale falls help scientists understand ...
Phys.org / Microbial alliances, not mitochondria alone, may have built first eukaryotic cells
All cells in animals, plants, fungi, and protists share a fundamental characteristic: they are eukaryotic cells—complex cells with specialized internal compartments. The cells that make up our bodies are no exception.
Phys.org / Ancient genome duplications laid the foundations of complex brains, research suggests
New findings, published in Nature, help answer the riddle of how vertebrates evolved the diverse array of brain cells that distinguishes them from other animals. It appears that a dramatic expansion of the genetic toolkit ...
Phys.org / Cells have a secret power line: How the nucleus gets its own private energy supply from mitochondria
For decades, biologists assumed a cell's energy simply diffused to wherever it was needed. It turns out the most important destination of all has a private delivery line.
Phys.org / Novel catalyst design boosts solar-driven ammonia production under mild conditions
Sunlight, water, air and metal-organic catalysts—that could be all it takes. TU Wien has shown how catalyst design can be advanced for solar-driven NH3 synthesis. Without this chemical technology, feeding the world as we ...
Phys.org / DNA tetrahedrons unlock sharper cancer targeting with vitamin E tweak
Conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, often lack specificity and can damage both cancerous and healthy cells, leading to severe side effects. With this in mind, researchers at Indian Institute of Technology ...
Phys.org / A meteorite impact may have once rained gold on Western Australia
We're used to a lot of different natural things falling out of the sky. These can include snow, rain and sometimes even frogs (yes, really). All of these relate to weather phenomena.
Phys.org / Small optical component could change how telescopes view the sun
A new telescope technology—measuring just 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) in diameter—could improve how future space missions study and monitor the sun while simplifying onboard hardware and reducing costs.
Phys.org / Annual global migration has nearly tripled since 2000, reshaping where and how people move
Global migration has risen sharply from approximately 13 million people per year in 2000 to around 35 million people per year in 2023. This is according to a new dataset on human migration published in Nature by researchers ...
Phys.org / Quantum witness technique reveals spinons in quantum spin liquid candidate
Physicists at University College Cork have developed a new approach in the search for a quantum spin liquid, a long-sought state of quantum matter resembling a magnetic liquid whose quantum properties mean it never freezes. ...
Phys.org / Why plastic lingers: Water chemistry slows nature's cleanup
Scientists have long known that sunlight helps break down plastic. So, why do plastic products linger for decades and even centuries in rivers, lakes, and oceans—even when bathed in direct sunlight? Northwestern University ...
Phys.org / Lab-created 'moon' rock could help scientists interpret lunar data and explore how water might form on the moon
The moon may look unchanged from afar, but its surface is constantly reshaped by microscopic impacts and a steady stream of particles from the sun, a process known as space weathering. Now, Georgia Tech researchers have recreated ...
