Phys.org news
Phys.org / Cheaper sequencing, bigger payoff: New software could bring advanced metagenomics to more labs
Metagenomics relies on the use of software programs called assemblers, which can reconstruct tens of thousands of individual microbial genomes from DNA sequencing of samples such as soil, bodily fluids, or clinical swabs ...
Phys.org / Wild apple genes still shape modern fruit, and that could matter for climate-ready crops
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with international partners, have uncovered new insights into how apples became the fruits we know today, showing that their evolution has been shaped by continuous exchange ...
Phys.org / DNA's physical form helps direct gyrase activity and could reshape antibiotic design
New analytical methods developed at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions have increased our understanding of how bacteria manage DNA. The methods have enabled researchers to uncover how the sequence, ...
Phys.org / Discovery of new polymer class provides compostable alternative to conventional thermoplastics
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have discovered a new class of polymers as part of the work carried out within the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1357 Microplastics. These polymers are characterized by biodegradable ...
Phys.org / Chalk-stream salmon could become an official sub-species
Chalk-stream salmon should be officially classified as a sub-species, new research suggests. Scientists from the University of Exeter and INRAe (France) carried out detailed genetic testing of salmon from 42 rivers in England, ...
Phys.org / Discovering a favorite pit stop and communication hub for cloud forest canopy dwellers
In his time spent in the lush canopies of Costa Rica's cloud forest, UConn Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. student Jeremy Quirós-Navarro has worked as an arborist, helped place camera traps, collected ...
Phys.org / Bursting the barrier: Catalysts unlock hydrogen from magnesium hydride
A new study sheds light on how hydrogen can be stored and released more effectively using magnesium hydride (MgH₂), offering fresh direction for clean energy technologies.
Phys.org / What's in a name? Study finds two dahlia-damaging viruses are variants of same species
For decades, two different viruses were believed to be responsible for a common, untreatable disease in dahlias, a colorful, high-value flower grown worldwide. Virologists at Washington State University have now learned that ...
Phys.org / Mars rover detects never-before-seen organic compounds in new experiment
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has uncovered a diverse mix of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals widely considered building blocks for the origin of life on Earth.
Phys.org / Alternating atomic layers enable rare electron pairing mechanism in new unconventional superconductor
Superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity with a resistance of zero, have proved to be highly promising for the development of quantum technologies, medical imaging devices, particle accelerators and other advanced ...
Phys.org / Laser bursts flip nanoscale magnetic vortices at blistering speeds, opening a path to brain-like spintronics
Spintronics are devices that operate leveraging the spin, an intrinsic form of angular momentum, of electrons. The ability to switch magnetic states is central to the functioning of these devices, as it ultimately allows ...
Phys.org / Put a nanodiamond under intense pressure and it becomes flexible
Diamond is among the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth, but if you shrink it down to the nanoscale, it is surprisingly elastic. And that could be useful for a host of applications such as quantum computing. ...