Phys.org news
Phys.org / We ate space mushrooms and survived to tell the tale
The mushrooms spread out on the chopping board seemed normal enough. They were rich and dense, and had a strong earthy aroma. In the saucepan, they melted—along with the cheese—to form a creamy pasta sauce.
Phys.org / Agave or bust! Mexican long-nosed bats head farther north in search of sweet nectar
Mexican long-nosed bats have a taste for agave, their tongues designed to lap up the famous desert plant's nectar during nightly flights. It's not just a means of satisfying taste buds. It's a matter of fueling up for an ...
Phys.org / Tiny radio transmitters reveal a hidden survival tactic in birds
In Sturt National Park, near Tibooburra in central Australia where temperatures can range from freezing to nearly 50°C, there lives a small bird with a white back, forked tail and—as we've just discovered—a very clever ...
Phys.org / Superconductivity exposes altermagnetism by breaking symmetries, study suggests
How are superconductivity and magnetism connected? A puzzling relation between magnetism and superconductivity in a quantum material has lingered for decades—now, a study from TU Wien offers a surprising new explanation.
Phys.org / A hearing test for the world's rarest sea turtle: Understanding its vulnerability to human-caused noise
Kemp's ridley sea turtles are among the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world. They reside along the east and Gulf coasts of North America, alongside some of the world's most active shipping lanes. While the ...
Phys.org / Accurately predicting Arctic sea ice in real time
Arctic sea ice has large effects on the global climate. By cooling the planet, Arctic ice impacts ocean circulation, atmospheric patterns, and extreme weather conditions, even outside the Arctic region. However, climate change ...
Phys.org / Probiotics for plants: Microorganisms boost growth and nitrogen uptake
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have identified a bacterial genus that promotes root growth and nitrogen uptake in plants. The findings open new possibilities for developing customized "plant probiotics" ...
Phys.org / Using duality to construct and classify new quantum phases
A team of theoretical researchers has found duality can unveil non-invertible symmetry protected topological phases, which can lead to researchers understanding more about the properties of these phases, and uncover new quantum ...
Phys.org / The unraveling of the shrew, in winter: Studies decode genetic basis of seasonal organ shrinkage in mammals
Some mammals hibernate to survive in winter, but the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus) employs Dehnel's phenomenon to get through it. This is a metabolic process that enables shrews to conserve energy by shrinking their ...
Phys.org / Tiny droplets navigate mazes using 'chemical echolocation,' without sensors or computers
A recent study by a team of researchers led by TU Darmstadt has found that tiny amounts of liquid can navigate their way through unknown environments like living cells—without sensors, computers or external control. The ...
Phys.org / Stable boron compounds pave the way for easier drug development
A major step toward simpler drug development has been taken at the University of Gothenburg. In a new study, researchers have developed stable boron-fluorine compounds that make it possible to increase the effect or reduce ...
Phys.org / Niobium's superconducting switch cuts near-field radiative heat transfer 20-fold
When cooled to its superconducting state, niobium blocks the radiative flow of heat 20 times better than when in its metallic state, according to a study led by a University of Michigan Engineering team. The experiment marks ...
