Phys.org news
Phys.org / Intestinal bacterium allows microbiome-mediated protection against pathogens
The totality of bacteria, viruses and fungi that exist in and on a multicellular organism forms its natural microbiome. The interactions between the body and these microorganisms significantly influence both, the functions ...
Phys.org / Will asteroid 2024 YR4 hit the moon?
Asteroid 2024 YR4 made headlines earlier this year when its probability of impacting Earth in 2032 rose as high as 3%. While an Earth impact has now been ruled out, the asteroid's story continues.
Phys.org / Scientists reveal how diverse cell types are produced in developing embryos
A team of scientists at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) has uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that controls how genes are switched "on" and "off" during embryonic development. Their study sheds light on ...
Phys.org / Tiny stars, many Earths: Potentially habitable worlds may be especially common around low-mass stars
According to the latest studies led by Heidelberg University astronomers, low-mass stars quite often host Earth-like planets. Data collected as part of the CARMENES project were the basis of this finding. By analyzing the ...
Phys.org / Magnetic frustration in atacamite triggers dramatic cooling when exposed to strong fields
Natural crystals fascinate with their vibrant colors, their nearly flawless appearance and their manifold symmetrical forms. But researchers are interested in them for quite different reasons: Among the countless minerals ...
Phys.org / Study challenges recent claims about rapid Antarctic 'greening'
A new study challenges recent claims about dramatic "greening" in Antarctica and how this conflicts with decades of field-based ecological knowledge. The new opinion article, "Is Antarctica Greening?" published in Global ...
Phys.org / Study reveals uneven land sinking across New Orleans, raising flood-risk concerns
Parts of New Orleans and its surrounding wetlands are gradually sinking, and while most of the city remains stable, a new study from Tulane University researchers suggests that sections of the region's $15 billion post-Katrina ...
Phys.org / Wafer lens changes X-ray beam size by more than 3,400 times
Using only a single-crystal piezoelectric thin wafer of lithium niobate (LN) instead of the usual two-part structure, a group from Nagoya University in Japan has created a deformable mirror that changes X-ray beam size by ...
Phys.org / Tiny ocean migrants play a massive role in Southern Ocean carbon storage, study finds
A new study has revealed that small but mighty zooplankton—including copepods, krill, and salps—are key players in the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb and store carbon.
Phys.org / Light-powered microscopic swimmers with on/off control open new pathways for drug delivery
Scientists have created tiny disk-shaped particles that can swim on their own when hit with light, akin to microscopic robots that move through a special liquid without any external motors or propellers.
Phys.org / Hey Siri, fix my spacecraft! A virtual assistant could help astronauts handle unexpected space mission issues
When astronauts make the long journey to Mars in the not-so-distant future, communication with mission control will be impossible for days to weeks at a time. Enter Daphne-AT: a virtual assistant (VA) designed to help astronauts ...
Phys.org / Plant genome evolution shows both episodic and gradual diploidization patterns
Polyploidy, or whole-genome duplication (WGD), is a major mechanism of genome evolution across the tree of life and is particularly prevalent in plants, where it facilitates the evolution of new traits.
