Phys.org news
Phys.org / Gene-sharing view challenged as bacteria shown to police DNA exchange
A new study finds that bacteria can actively block the transfer of beneficial genes to neighboring cells, using specialized proteins to specifically destroy shared DNA before it spreads. This challenges the long-held view ...
Phys.org / Room to move: Neutron scattering shows how proteins behave in crowded environments
Proteins are essential molecules in living systems. They move, interact and organize themselves to carry out a wide range of functions, from helping cells communicate to forming structures inside the cell. In many cases, ...
Phys.org / Atomic-level snapshots reveal how a key copper enzyme powers nature's chemistry
Researchers from the University of Liverpool, Japan, and Argentina have captured atomic-resolution images of an important copper-containing enzyme using advanced X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) technology at SACLA in Japan. ...
Phys.org / Machine learning helps detect roars from lion collars without recording actual audio
Roaring over long distances is a key behavior of lions. They communicate within prides as well as with other animals using distinct sequences of moans and grunts. Scientists from the GAIA Initiative have now published a machine ...
Phys.org / Molecular chains unlock atomically precise nanoribbons for next-generation electronics
Scientists have developed a unique way to build electronic components so small they are made from chains of individual molecules—creating a toolbox to help build materials that could power the next generation of technology.
Phys.org / Why more gut and soil microbes could make ecosystems easier to predict
Much of the beauty—and challenge—of biology lies in its complexity. That's especially true in the microbial world, where hundreds or thousands of different bacterial species may co-exist in a patch of soil or in a section ...
Phys.org / Ancient amber reveals a true bug equipped with claws, a highly unusual feature
Amber from the Kachin region of Myanmar has preserved a wealth of fossils, offering insights into the diversity of the Cretaceous fauna of a 100-million-year-old forest ecosystem. The site continues to yield previously unknown ...
Phys.org / Particle thought to break physics followed rules all along, research reveals
A tiny discrepancy in particle physics has loomed for decades as an exciting possible crack in one of science's most successful theories, hinting at unknown forces or quantum objects. Now, an international team led by a Penn ...
Phys.org / Both bonobos and dolphins form unexpected alliances with 'outsiders'
Cooperation is a pillar of human society, promoting an exchange of skills and knowledge between different individuals and social groups. Humans typically do not only cooperate with their own family, friends and members of ...
Phys.org / This volcano that 'slept' for 100,000 years was never truly quiet
For more than 100,000 years, the Methana volcano in Greece appeared dormant. No lava, no explosions, no ash clouds. It appeared extinct, like many other volcanoes today. An international research team led by ETH Zurich has ...
Phys.org / It wasn't just water: The hidden force inside Japan's 2011 tsunami changed everything
Mud-rich coastlines could face a greater tsunami risk, at least that may have been the case for the 2011 Tōhoku-oki tsunami that killed more than 19,000 people and led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. According ...
Phys.org / A new route for plasma-based particle accelerators
Plasma, the fourth state of matter, consists of a gas in which electrons are no longer bound to atoms, which allows electricity to flow freely. When beams of particles moving close to the speed of light travel through plasma, ...
