Phys.org news
Phys.org / One million years without sex fails to erase stick insects' unused biological system
Scientists have made a surprising finding about how an asexually reproducing stick insect has evolved. Research led by Dr. Darren Parker, lecturer in evolutionary biology at Bangor University, studied the genes of several ...
Phys.org / New AI model reveals the volume of the world's glaciers
How much ice is stored in the world's glaciers? And where exactly is it located? A new study led by Ca' Foscari University of Venice, in collaboration with the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council ...
Phys.org / Creating cleaner chemical reactions that run on oxygen and produce only water as waste
Oxygen provides the driving force for many vital chemical reactions. Two well-known examples include respiration, the process that allows living things to break down food to release its energy, and combustion, reactions that ...
Phys.org / Researchers unlock high-res view of 2D materials by doing a microscopic twist
By rapidly twisting a microscopically small tip back and forth, researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have unlocked a new way to detect subtle changes on the surface of a material flexing in response to infrared ...
Phys.org / New 'shape-shifting' architecture brings versatility to photonic quantum computing
Using light to process quantum information is one of the most promising approaches to building future quantum computers. Light particles, known as photons, are excellent carriers of quantum information, but their lack of ...
Phys.org / Laser spectroscopy helps reveal hidden nuclear properties in fermium
For the first time, researchers have determined the shape of the actinide nucleus of fermium-255 and measured its structure with high precision and resolution.
Phys.org / Hidden anatomy of clouds reveals how rain may begin without ice crystals
The initiation of rain in clouds without ice remains one of the largest unsolved mysteries in atmospheric science.
Phys.org / Phages unlock essential vitamin B12 by bursting open gut bacteria
All living organisms need vitamin B12 to form red blood cells and DNA, as well as to build and support brain and nerve cells. But it's hard to come by: Humans don't make it. Animals don't make it. Plants don't make it. In ...
Phys.org / Birdsong and whale song show patterns similar to human language
An international team of researchers has uncovered a previously undetected structure in the birdsong of Bengalese finches that has the same statistical patterns found in human languages.
Phys.org / First full zoysia grass genetic blueprint opens doors for drought-tolerant turf
A new genomic resource from the Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant genomics team is providing a powerful new foundation for faster, more precise turfgrass genetics and breeding. The team discovered a breakthrough genome that ...
Phys.org / Antenna-like cell appendage may help turtle embryos sense sex-deciding nest temperatures
When most baby turtles hatch, their sex depends on the temperature of the sand or soil where their mother laid her eggs. Warm incubation produces females, while cool nests produce males.
Phys.org / Hydraulic traits reveal why some mountain trees move uphill while others shift downhill
As global temperatures rise, scientists have largely assumed that mountain tree species will move uphill in search of cooler conditions. A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals a more complex reality: Some ...