Phys.org news
Phys.org / Corals sleep like us, but their symbionts never rest
Sleep is essential for much of the animal kingdom. During the night, neuron and tissue repair mechanisms are activated to aid recovery from daily activity. This is risky: organisms that sleep are more vulnerable to predators. ...
Phys.org / Cross-border pollution tracking reveals unequal distribution of risk and responsibility
Microscopic airborne particles known as PM2.5 contribute to 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. A new University of Notre Dame study finds that 40% of these deaths can be attributed to pollution that ...
Phys.org / Simple statistical method predicts landslide risk more accurately than classic method
A relatively simple statistical analysis method can more accurately predict the risk of landslides caused by heavy rain, according to a study coordinated by Brazilian researchers affiliated with the Institute of Mathematical ...
Phys.org / Plant mothers send molecular 'text messages' to pollen
Small RNAs are short RNA molecules that help determine which genes in a cell are switched on or off. Until now, it was assumed that the small RNAs necessary for pollen development originate in the pollen itself and in the ...
Phys.org / Proton-trapping MNene transforms ammonia production for food security and economic growth
With a new electrochemical synthesis via an electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), achieving carbon-free ammonia production is closer to reality through work from Drs. Abdoulaye Djire and Perla Balbuena, chemical ...
Phys.org / Changing land use can increase threat of animal‑to‑human disease spread
Changes to land use can directly heighten the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans, new University of Stirling–led research has shown. The study, led by Dr. Adam Fell of the University's Faculty of Natural ...
Phys.org / Pesticides significantly affect soil life and biodiversity, study finds
Seventy percent of soils in Europe are contaminated with pesticides. A Europe-wide study co-led by researchers of the University of Zurich now shows that their effects on soil life are substantial, as pesticides suppress ...
Phys.org / Small-scale farmers produce more of the rich world's food than previously thought
Who grows our food? This seemingly simple question is getting harder to answer in a world where our food crosses borders to get to our plate.
Phys.org / A lost world: Ancient cave reveals million-year-old wildlife
Australian and New Zealand scientists have unearthed the remains of ancient wildlife in a cave near Waitomo on Aotearoa's North Island, the first time a large number of million-year-old fossils have been found—including ...
Phys.org / How dangling moss saves blue manakin eggs from hungry birds
If something exists in nature, there is most likely a very good reason for it. While there are exceptions, many features "selected" by evolution serve a purpose. Take the blue manakin, a small bird commonly found in southeastern ...
Phys.org / A protein thought to play a supporting role in DNA replication actually facilitates the whole process
Every time a cell divides, it must copy its entire genome so that each daughter cell inherits a complete set of DNA. During that process, enzymes known as polymerases race along the DNA to copy its code and build new strands. ...
Phys.org / Novel ferroelectric ultraviolet photodetector achieves near-10,000-fold speed increase
Researchers from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new ferroelectric ultraviolet photodetector material that overcomes the long-standing performance limitations of conventional ...
