Phys.org news

Phys.org / Signaling circuit interplay pushes newborn neurons out of the neuronal nest

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but for developing neurons, this first step relies on collaboration from multiple signaling pathways. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital used fluorescent ...

Jan 7, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / 'Toxic Male Technique' promises faster biocontrol of mosquito populations

A new biological pest control method that targets the lifespan of female insects could significantly reduce the threat of insect pests such as disease-carrying mosquitoes by offering faster and more effective results than ...

Jan 7, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Lock and key: Scientists clarify how important proteins 'dock' to centromere

The centromere of chromosomes plays a crucial role in cell division. Using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, an international team of researchers led by the Leibniz Institute IPK has investigated how two crucial proteins—KNL2 ...

Jan 7, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Quantum dots enhance spin chemistry in radical pairs

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) constitute a platform to explore various quantum effects. Their size-dependent colors are essentially a naked-eye, ambient-condition visualization of the quantum confinement effect.

Jan 7, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Parasite 'matchmakers' can genetically alter plant cells to attract insects

Scientists have revealed a parasite's role in boosting male insect appeal by modulating host processes to facilitate female attraction, thereby enhancing the parasite's own transmission and survival.

Jan 7, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Integrating historical data stands to improve climate models in the Global South

An international team led by McGill University researchers has devised a way to improve the accuracy of climate change models for the Global South by integrating historical records kept by missionaries and other visitors.

Jan 7, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Unlocking cell recycling: Weak molecular interactions provide new possibilities for artificial control

Recycling takes place in our cells at all times: in a process called autophagy, cell components that are no longer needed are enclosed by membranes and broken down into their basic building blocks. This vital process prevents ...

Jan 7, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / How electrical synapses fine-tune sensory information for better decisions

Scientists at Yale and the University of Connecticut have taken a major step in understanding how animal brains make decisions, revealing a crucial role for electrical synapses in "filtering" sensory information.

Jan 7, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Researchers introduce new 'filament channel' function to predict solar eruptions triggered by emerging flux

A study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, introduces a newly defined "filament channel" function. This new function provides a novel theoretical foundation for predicting solar eruptions by determining whether ...

Jan 7, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Citizen science reveals that Jupiter's colorful clouds are not made of ammonia ice

Collaborative work by amateur and professional astronomers has helped to resolve a long-standing misunderstanding about the composition of Jupiter's clouds. Instead of being formed of ammonia ice—the conventional view—it ...

Jan 6, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Yemeni DNA reveals ancient ties to the Levant, Arabia and East Africa

Researchers from Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates, working with regional and international collaborators, have examined Yemeni DNA to reveal how migrations from the Levant, Arabia, and East Africa formed the modern ...

Jan 6, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / A treasure trove of unseen stars beyond the 'Dragon Arc'

Looking halfway across the observable universe and expecting to see individual stars is considered a non-starter in astronomy, a bit like raising a pair of binoculars at the moon in hopes of making out individual grains of ...

Jan 6, 2025 in Astronomy & Space