Phys.org news
Phys.org / Quantum handshake: How orbital overlap dictates molecular conductance
By placing single-atom-thick adlayers of p-block metals on commonly employed gold electrodes (d-block), a research team at National Taiwan University has successfully quantified the "interfacial hopping integral" between ...
Phys.org / Female birds more likely to sing when their extended family helps with childcare
Most of us have heard the phrase "it takes a village" when it comes to childcare. This age-old saying holds true for some songbirds, and a new study has found that this "village" has evolutionary consequences for their songs.
Phys.org / How flexible protein regions retain their function via motifs and chemical context
A new LMU study shows how proteins function reliably even without a stable 3D structure—and the crucial importance not only of short sequence motifs, but also of chemical characteristics.
Phys.org / Leopard gecko study clarifies how temperature shapes sex development
In reptiles, a simple temperature change can determine whether an egg develops into a male or female. This process is formally known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), in which the sex of an embryo is determined ...
Phys.org / Not so pretty but plenty of likes: A bumblebee bandwagon effect prioritizes busy flowers over beautiful ones
If you were a bee, how would you choose a flower to land on? You might go to the most beautiful one, as pollination biologists have long suggested that flowers with striking colors attract pollinators more easily. Or perhaps, ...
Phys.org / A pathway to achieve high well-being and a safe climate without relying on GDP growth
Governments' attempts to achieve climate goals are falling short, in large part because wealthy economies are continuing to pursue economic growth. As these economies ramp up production and consumption, they make climate ...
Phys.org / Microbial clues uncover how wild songbirds respond to stress
Every animal carries a microscopic community of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that play a critical role in health. These gut microbes help regulate the immune system, support digestion, and even influence how animals ...
Phys.org / Urban park soil microbes reveal function–evolution trade-off
Urban parks are a vital component of urban ecosystems and provide distinctive habitats for soil microorganisms. Yet scientists have questioned whether—and how—the functional diversity and evolutionary potential of microbial ...
Phys.org / Regenerative grazing study reveals trade-offs for sheep farmers
A new Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) study has found that while regenerative agriculture practices can improve soil health and reduce emissions on sheep farms, farmers often face trade-offs between environmental ...
Phys.org / Comprehensive digital materials ecosystem can perform 'sanity check' to guide design
There is a near-infinite number of material candidates out there—and simply not enough time to hunker down in the lab and test them all. Thankfully, researchers have a variety of tools (such as AI) at their disposal to ...
Phys.org / How an alga makes the most of dim light by rearranging ordinary chlorophyll
To survive in areas where it is difficult to photosynthesize, some organisms adopt unique strategies. Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have found that a freshwater alga captures far-red light as an additional energy ...
Phys.org / Geneticists challenge common model of how cells retain their identity
One of the most widely accepted models for how cells remember their identity may be incorrect. This is shown in a new study by two research groups at Umeå University. In Science Advances, they present results that overturn ...
