Phys.org news
Phys.org / City raccoons showing signs of domestication
That resourceful "trash panda" digging through your garbage may be more than just a nuisance—it could be a living example of evolution in progress.
Phys.org / Mad cow disease: A new culprit beyond prions
Recent research led by the University of Alberta challenges the belief that mad cow disease is caused only by misfolded proteins—a discovery that sheds new light on the devastating outbreak in the United Kingdom 40 years ...
Phys.org / Scientists can finally answer an old question about cellular aging
After a finite number of divisions, cells simply give up. As each round of replication trims their telomeres—the protective caps at the chromosome ends—those caps eventually become too short to prevent chromosome ends ...
Phys.org / Evidence of rain-driven climate on Mars found in bleached rocks scattered in Jezero crater
Rocks that stood out as light-colored dots on the reddish-orange surface of Mars now are the latest evidence that areas of the small planet may have once supported wet oases with humid climates and heavy rainfall comparable ...
Phys.org / The inequalities of laundry: Research reveals overlooked source of microplastic pollution
Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering have observed that handwashing synthetic fabrics in water with higher total dissolved solids (TDS) leads to more microplastic fibers (MPF) being released, creating implications ...
Phys.org / Fossils reveal anacondas have been giants for over 12 million years
A University of Cambridge-led team has analyzed giant anaconda fossils from South America to deduce that these tropical snakes reached their maximum size 12.4 million years ago and have remained giants ever since.
Phys.org / Why your faucet drips: Water jet breakup traced to angstrom-scale thermal capillary waves
Some phenomena in our daily lives are so commonplace that we don't realize there could be some very interesting physics behind them. Take a dripping faucet: why does the continuous stream of water from a faucet eventually ...
Phys.org / Coral reefs have stabilized Earth's carbon cycle for the past 250 million years, research reveals
Coral reefs have long been celebrated as biodiversity hotspots—but new research shows they have also played a much deeper role: conducting the rhythm of Earth's carbon and climate cycles for more than 250 million years.
Phys.org / Are university policies holding science back? Study shows how patenting boosts pure research
When UC Berkeley biochemist Jennifer Doudna first began studying how bacteria fight virus infections, she had no idea it would result in one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the century. Her curiosity-driven ...
Phys.org / What time is it on Mars? Physicists have the answer.
Ask someone on Earth for the time and they can give you an exact answer, thanks to our planet's intricate timekeeping system, built with atomic clocks, GPS satellites and high-speed telecommunications networks.
Phys.org / Bird-of-paradise inspires darkest fabric ever made
The color "ultrablack"—defined as reflecting less than 0.5% of the light that hits it—has a variety of uses, including in cameras, solar panels and telescopes, but it's difficult to produce and can appear less black when ...
Phys.org / Elephant seals recognize their rivals from years prior, study finds
Humans are not the only animals that can remember the voices of their old acquaintances. Elephant seals, too, can remember the calls of their rivals even a year later.
