Phys.org news
Phys.org / Faster lower-cost PFAS testing could reshape how US drinking water is monitored
A new investigation from the University of Kansas improves detection of PFAS, a family of so-called "forever chemicals" in drinking water supplies. The method, which can measure trace pollution levels of PFAS in water more ...
Phys.org / Ancient altercations between musk turtles and alligator gar recorded in Florida's fossil record
Sometime between 5.5 and 5.6 million years ago, two shell crushers squared off in the languid currents of an ancient Florida river. The fossils they left behind, discovered by paleontologists at the Florida Museum of Natural ...
Phys.org / Why the Arctic's rivers are rusting now and where toxic orange water could spread next
Scientists have identified the two biggest reasons that once-pristine rivers across the Arctic are growing cloudy with toxic orange iron particles that smother insects and suffocate fish.
Phys.org / Leafy camouflage reshapes katydid love songs, making males more attractive to females
New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered that insects who conceal themselves as leaves also use their leafy camouflage to amplify mating calls, making themselves more attractive to the opposite sex. The ...
Phys.org / Environmental engineers reshape understanding of airborne pollution particles
From sizzling bacon in the kitchen to wildfire smoke in the sky, cooking and pollution release microscopic particles that affect humans' health, the air they breathe, and even weather and climate. New research from Virginia ...
Phys.org / Climate-based tool predicts coral bleaching months in advance, offering critical lead time for reef protection
Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have developed a new method to predict coral bleaching five to six months before it occurs, giving reef managers valuable time to protect vulnerable ecosystems. ...
Phys.org / Twilight hunt reveals falcon feasting on unusual prey at Greek lagoon
Falcons are lauded for their speed and agility. The Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), skilled at snagging birds and insects out of the air, is no exception. However, during twilight on one day in October, researcher Apostolos ...
Phys.org / Nine decades of changing insect diversity in Switzerland expose a striking divide
Thanks to a historical data archive, Swiss researchers are able to draw conclusions about the changes in the diversity of two insect groups over the past 90 years. The study, led by Agroscope, identified a significant decline ...
Phys.org / Robot fish could unravel how our ancient ancestors first learned to walk
Researchers have developed a fish-like robot that shows how some species of modern fish are able to walk on land, and could help unravel how early vertebrates evolved similar abilities hundreds of millions of years ago.
Phys.org / 'Mini-Neptune' exoplanets may have smoggy atmospheres similar to diesel exhaust
The astronauts circling Earth on the Artemis mission sent back beautiful clear photos of the continents, clouds, and oceans. But we might be the exception. Many planets in the universe may be hazed in clouds of soot, according ...
Phys.org / Predicting physics without parameter tuning: A faster computational approach
Numerical simulations in physics often require estimating a multitude of parameters, making the process computationally expensive and complex. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have introduced a new method called the multiparameter ...
Phys.org / Antarctic 'sky rivers' deliver up to 90% of snowfall, 3D algorithm suggests
Atmospheric rivers act like "rivers in the sky," shuttling intense bands of warm, heavy moisture from lower to higher latitudes. When an atmospheric river encounters cold air or mountainous terrain, the moisture it carries ...