Phys.org news
Phys.org / DNA 'flight recorder' traces embryonic development cell by cell
For decades, scientists have been able to look at individual moments in the development of an embryo: a snapshot of a developing brain, a picture of how the heart takes shape or a glimpse of cells beginning to form the nervous ...
Phys.org / Newly discovered antiviral system in bacteria is 'strangest of its kind'
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered an unusual bacterial immune system that operates in reverse of known defenses. The discovery, published in Molecular Cell, details the mechanics of "type VI retrons"—a counterintuitive ...
Phys.org / New topological microscope tip reveals evidence of 2D altermagnetism
Researchers have fashioned a layered topological material into a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip that senses spin-related electronic states at atomic resolution.
Phys.org / 'Carpet' growth method yields long-sought 2D quantum material
For decades, physicists have sought a practical two-dimensional topological insulator: an ultrathin material whose interior blocks electricity but whose edges conduct it. In ordinary wires, electrons constantly bounce off ...
Phys.org / 3D map of rice development charts gene activity across plant's entire life cycle
Rice is one of the world's most familiar staple foods, but how does a single cell develop into a rice plant with specialized tissues and organs? A new study offers a detailed look at this process through a three-dimensional ...
Phys.org / Copper-resistant bacteria complicate efforts to keep ship hulls clean
Marine bacteria have evolved to bypass the copper-based coatings applied to ship hulls to stop the growth of barnacles, algae and other marine life. This necessitates new methods for managing biofouling—the unwanted accumulation ...
Phys.org / Sequence changes help modified mRNA avoid protein-making errors to improve vaccine design
When the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 turned our world upside down, mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 brought a breakthrough. Their success established modified mRNA as a powerful foundation for vaccines and opened the way for new ...
Phys.org / Humans and songbirds hear the same sounds, but organize them differently
Researchers from the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University have discovered that humans and songbirds use markedly different strategies to recognize sequences of complex sounds. The findings shed new light on how biology ...
Phys.org / Hawaiian coral tests reveal heat tolerance varies by species and location
As ocean temperatures rise, corals' ability to withstand and adapt to heat stress is critical for the future of coral reefs. Many reef-building corals already live near their upper thermal limits, making them vulnerable to ...
Phys.org / A small RNA switch with huge potential opens up new possibilities for synthetic biology
An international research team led by TU Darmstadt Professor Beatrix Süß, working in close collaboration with partners in Germany and Denmark, has elucidated how an RNA switch newly developed at TU Darmstadt recognizes the ...
Phys.org / Optical skyrmions can control the motion of magnetic skyrmions
Magnetic skyrmions (MSks) are swirling patterns of magnetization that form inside certain magnetic materials. They can behave like actual particles in many ways, exhibiting a stable internal structure and distinct boundaries. ...
Phys.org / Computational model guides lighting design to improve color discrimination in aging eyes
Researchers have developed a new computational model that accounts for the effects of aging on our eyes' ability to discriminate color. It could help guide lighting designs that make it easier for older adults to perceive ...
