Phys.org news
Phys.org / Horses with over 30 minutes of REM sleep show better persistence in learning tasks
Just as for humans, sufficient sleep supports learning and coping for horses. A recent study at the University of Helsinki indicates that short periods of REM sleep impair horses' perseverance and performance in demanding ...
Phys.org / Tropical forests generate rainfall worth billions, study finds
Tropical forests help to generate vast amounts of rainfall each year, adding weight to arguments for protecting them as water and climate pressures increase, say researchers. A new study led by the University of Leeds has ...
Phys.org / Renewable biological catalyst carries the potential to transform wastewater into phosphorus resource
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and managing its availability is critical for growing crops to maintain the global food supply. In an effort to move toward a more sustainable bioeconomy, researchers from the ...
Phys.org / Plasma rotation simulations could help fusion reactors survive decades of use
Scientists have long seen a puzzling pattern in tokamaks, the doughnut-shaped machines that could one day reliably generate electricity from fusing atoms. When plasma particles escape the core of the magnetic fields that ...
Phys.org / Specially engineered crystal reveals magnetism with quantum potential
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, working with international partners, have uncovered surprising behavior in a specially engineered crystal. Composed of tantalum, tungsten and selenium—elements ...
Phys.org / Climbing behaviors of tree-dwelling mammals unlock insights on early primate evolution
Researchers have shed new light on the features that enable tree-dwelling mammals to move effectively through their environments, providing insights into the evolution of the distinct upright postures seen in primates. The ...
Phys.org / Northern Europe's radiator: Volcanic eruptions in the past may have pushed ocean currents toward collapse
New research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that volcanic eruptions during the Ice Age may have triggered sudden climate change by disrupting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), causing temperatures ...
Phys.org / Beyond 'survival' of fittest: Evolution works in teams
Survival of the fittest. Nature red in tooth and claw. The common view of natural selection is based solely on the individual: A trait allows an organism to out-compete its rivals and is thus passed down to its offspring. ...
Phys.org / Satellite imagery and AI reveal development needs hidden by national data
For years, Iceland, Switzerland, and Norway have ranked near the top of the United Nations' annual index of countries based on indicators of well-being and quality of life. Countries with more poverty and less access to health ...
Phys.org / Intensive grazing and soil fertility favor the growth of non-native plants, drylands study finds
A global study has revealed the conditions under which non-native plants thrive in the world's many dryland regions and the factors that limit their spread. Using data from 98 study sites across 25 countries on six continents, ...
Phys.org / Off-the-shelf components enable deployment-ready quantum entanglement source
Efficient generation and reliable distribution of quantum entangled states is crucial for emerging quantum applications, including quantum key distribution (QKDs). However, conventional polarization-based entanglement states ...
Phys.org / Climate change widened Valencia's 2024 extreme rain footprint by 55%, study finds
Human-driven climate change intensified rainfall that triggered Spain's deadliest natural disaster in a generation when flash floods hit the Valencia region in 2024, a new study showed on Tuesday.
