Phys.org news
Phys.org / Medieval communities boosted biodiversity around Lake Constance for centuries, study reveals
One of the major realizations of the Anthropocene era has been the importance of biodiversity for the functioning of the Earth system, as well as for human societies.
Phys.org / Lethal aggression among chimpanzees tied to larger territories and higher infant survival
The Ngogo chimpanzees of Uganda's Kibale National Park have long been known for violent clashes with neighboring groups, often resulting in deaths—a phenomenon sometimes described as "chimpanzee warfare."
Phys.org / Light intensity steers molecular assemblies into 1D, 2D or 3D structures
Constructing out-of-equilibrium molecular assemblies that deviate from thermodynamic equilibrium is a central challenge in materials science. While numerous studies have reported the creation of such states using external ...
Phys.org / Open-access tool navigates expanding world of metal–organic frameworks for easier discovery
A new open-access tool created by University of Toronto Engineering researchers provides a systematic way to organize and synthesize knowledge about metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)—a class of materials with applications ...
Phys.org / Nearly 47 million Americans at high risk of potential health hazards from fossil fuel infrastructure, study finds
Fossil fuels release pollutants into the air when extracted and burned, but there's more to their production than massive oil rigs diving deep into Earth and smoky power plants. Those processes are examples of only the first ...
Phys.org / Prescribed burning helps store forest carbon in big fire-resistant trees, long-term Sierra Nevada study shows
A two-decade-long experiment in the Sierra Nevada found that regular prescribed burns promote carbon sequestration in live trees and plants, maintaining forests' long-term ability to store carbon while also reducing wildfire ...
Phys.org / Traditional Hawaiian fishponds help shield fish from climate change impacts
Traditional Hawaiian fishponds (loko iʻa) are emerging as a model for climate resilience, according to a study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). The research, published ...
Phys.org / Sugar transporters found to boost aminoglycoside antibiotic entry into bacteria
Aminoglycosides are antibiotics effective against a wide range of bacteria including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Until now however, their mode of entry into bacteria has remained unknown. ...
Phys.org / Beyond the usual suspect: Nitrogen feeds algae blooms, researchers find
Nitrogen is a bit of a conundrum. In its gaseous form it's the most abundant element in the atmosphere, but few organisms can readily use it. And while all living organisms contain nitrogen, a new University of Vermont study ...
Phys.org / Molecular switch helps cancer cells survive harsh conditions
Cells are regularly faced with environmental stresses that may damage or destroy them. To survive, they quickly adjust their gene expression to protect themselves. This is especially true for cancer cells, which must contend ...
Phys.org / Wastewater from 47 countries often suppresses resistant bacteria, challenging common assumptions
Municipal wastewater contains a large range of excreted antibiotics and has therefore long been suspected to be a spawning ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Now, a study led by a team from the University of Gothenburg ...
Phys.org / Reducing arsenic in drinking water cuts risk of death, even after years of chronic exposure: 20-year study
A 20-year study of nearly 11,000 adults in Bangladesh found that lowering arsenic levels in drinking water was associated with up to a 50% lower risk of death from heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses, compared ...
