Phys.org news

Phys.org / Researchers solve mystery of universe's 'little red dots'

Since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) went into operation, red dots in its images have puzzled researchers around the world. Now, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have explained these enigmatic findings, ...

3 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Woolly rhino genome recovered from Ice Age wolf stomach

Researchers from the Center for Paleogenetics have managed to analyze the genome from a 14,400-year-old woolly rhinoceros, recovered from a tissue sample found preserved inside the stomach of an ancient wolf.

3 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Plants use bacterial-like gene to make alkaloids, offering new route for sustainable medicines

Plants make substances called alkaloids to protect themselves, and humans have long taken advantage of these chemicals, using them in painkillers, treatments for disease and household products such as caffeine and nicotine.

2 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / A CRISPR fingerprint of pathogenic C. auris fungi for precision diagnostics

Infection with the pathogenic yeast fungus Candida auris (C. auris) can wreak havoc on the health of hospital patients and residents of nursing homes, especially those who are already weakened by other illnesses. The pathogen ...

2 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Jupiter's hidden depths: Simulation suggests planet holds 1.5 times more oxygen than the sun

Spectacular clouds swirl across the surface of Jupiter. These clouds contain water, just like Earth's, but are much denser on the gas giant—so thick that no spacecraft has been able to measure exactly what lies beneath.

4 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Quantum simulator reveals how vibrations steer energy flow in molecules

Researchers led by Rice University's Guido Pagano used a specialized quantum device to simulate a vibrating molecule and track how energy moves within it. The work, published Dec. 5 in Nature Communications, could improve ...

2 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Researchers expand human genome map to 2.37 million regulatory DNA elements

A research team led by Zhiping Weng, Ph.D., and Jill Moore, Ph.D."18, at UMass Chan Medical School, has nearly tripled the known number of potential regulatory elements in the genome to 2.37 million, creating the most comprehensive ...

3 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Indoor ozone reaction products can make blood thicker

Ozone that protects us from the sun's harmful UV rays, when in an indoor space, reacts with oils present on skin, wall paint, or even cooking oil to produce chemicals that negatively impact cardiovascular health.

5 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Frozen hydrogen cyanide 'cobwebs' offer clues to origin of life

A substance poisonous to humans—hydrogen cyanide—may have helped create the seeds of life on Earth. At cold temperatures, hydrogen cyanide forms crystals. And, according to computer models reported in ACS Central Science, ...

8 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Detailed map reveals groundwater levels across the U.S.

How much fresh water is in the United States? It's a tough question, since most of the water is underground, accessible at varying depths. In previous decades, it's been answered indirectly from data on rainfall and evaporation. ...

3 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / A 'cosmic clock' in tiny crystals reveals the rise and fall of Australia's ancient landscapes

Australia's iconic red landscapes have been home to Aboriginal culture and recorded in songlines for tens of thousands of years. But further clues to just how ancient this landscape is come from far beyond Earth: cosmic rays ...

3 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / T. rex grew up slowly: New study reveals 'king of dinosaurs' kept growing until age 40

For decades, scientists have been counting annual growth rings—similar to tree rings—inside fossilized leg bones of Tyrannosaurus rex to estimate how old the giant carnivores were when they died and how quickly they grew ...

9 hours ago in Biology