Phys.org news
Phys.org / Armored amphibian lived entirely at sea 237 million years ago, fossils suggest
Scientists report fossil evidence of the first fully marine amphibian in a study from the University of California, Davis; Peking University; and the Geological Museum of Guizhou. The amphibian is an armored, giant salamander–sized, ...
Phys.org / Clouds on a lava planet challenge what astronomers expected
A rocky lava planet once thought to be too extreme to have an atmosphere appears to be wrapped in one with a reflective layer of vaporized silicate mineral clouds, the same family of compounds that make up quartz and sand.
Phys.org / Metalens microscope switches focus with voltage, not moving optics
Just as it is difficult for a camera to keep both a nearby flower and a distant mountain sharply focused at the same time, conventional optical microscopes face a similar challenge when imaging structures located at different ...
Phys.org / Silent bacterial genes yield potential leads for future cancer drugs
Natural products produced by microorganisms are a promising source of new drugs. Researchers at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) and its Saarbrücken-based site, the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical ...
Phys.org / Audit reveals suspected fabricated references across physics, chemistry, engineering and computing journals
Months after a Columbia University School of Nursing–led audit published in the Lancet reported thousands of fabricated citations in medical papers, the same research team has found the same problem in the physical sciences, ...
Phys.org / Both selfishness and generosity distort how we see our impact, but the selfish view is more contagious
People can sometimes make decisions that benefit them but are less advantageous for someone else. In these scenarios, they might convince themselves that their choice causes little harm to others or that an alternative would ...
Phys.org / How shoes change our bones—and what that tells us about the evolution of walking
We tend to think of our bones as solid, unchanging support structures inside our bodies, but a recent study from the University of Chicago shows just how much they can change depending on how we use them.
Phys.org / Lizard tail preserved in amber sheds light on a 100-million-year-old defense mechanism
A lizard making a dramatic escape, leaving its tail wriggling behind as it darts to safety, is an image familiar to many. Tail-shedding is one of the most widespread defenses against predators among living lizards, yet tracing ...
Phys.org / Simulations reveal design rules for high-performance DNA particle motors
DNA-nano/microparticle motors are among the fastest artificial molecular motors reported to date, moving at approximately 30 nm per second. However, they are still slower than natural motor proteins (approximately 100–1,000 ...
Phys.org / Hydrogen production from seawater: Low-cost catalyst could cut energy use and resist corrosion
Using a range of advanced characterization techniques, researchers say they have developed a novel method with the potential to produce hydrogen from seawater using a process that requires less energy, resists corrosion and ...
Phys.org / Hidden chromosome structures reveal greater complexity in how roundworms organize DNA
Almost every cell in our body contains around two meters (6.6 feet) of DNA, packed into a tiny nucleus. Yet for the cell to function, this enormous amount of genetic material must remain organized and accessible. Researchers ...
Phys.org / Two distinct sleep stages emerge in jumping spider, including a REM-like state
Humans and other vertebrates go through various stages of sleep, including REM (rapid eye movement) sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and muscle twitches. Can a similar sleep state be observed in spiders? Researchers ...
