Phys.org news

Phys.org / Measuring the quantum extent of a single molecule confined to a nanodroplet

There is no measurement that can directly observe the wave function of a quantum mechanical system, but the wave function is still enormously useful as its (complex) square represents the probability density of the system ...

17 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / New map of the Milky Way's magnetism offers insights into cosmic evolution

A UBC Okanagan-led research project has given a group of international scientists their clearest view yet of the Milky Way's magnetic field, revealing that it is far more complex than previously believed.

11 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / NASA researchers probe tangled magnetospheres of merging neutron stars

New simulations performed on a NASA supercomputer are providing scientists with the most comprehensive look yet into the maelstrom of interacting magnetic structures around city-sized neutron stars in the moments before they ...

11 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Gaia data reveal three galactic open clusters in detail

Using ESA's Gaia satellite, astronomers have investigated three open clusters in the galactic disk, namely Berkeley 17, 18 and 39. Results of the new study, published January 21 on the arXiv pre-print server, yield crucial ...

18 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Mapping 'figure 8' Fermi surfaces to pinpoint future chiral conductors

One of the biggest problems facing modern microelectronics is that computer chips can no longer be made arbitrarily smaller and more efficient. Materials used to date, such as copper, are reaching their limits because their ...

11 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Real-time imaging captures contact between cells and between a single neuron's extensions

Living organisms are made up of hundreds of thousands of cells that cooperate to create the organs and systems that breathe, eat, move, and think. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new way to track how and when ...

11 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Bacterial 'brains' operate on the brink of order and disorder

The sensory proteins that control the motion of bacteria constantly fluctuate. AMOLF researchers, together with international collaborators from ETH Zurich and University of Utah, found out that these proteins can jointly ...

11 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Kangaroo and wallaby evolution tied to Australia's past climate shifts

A QUT-led study has found how increasing aridity and habitat variation and the subsequent emergence of grasslands shaped the evolution of modern kangaroos and wallabies. The study, published in Molecular Phylogenetics and ...

11 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Why termite kings and queens are monogamous: Scientists uncover surprising answer

Termites are among the most successful animals on Earth, forming vast societies that can number in the millions. But how did such complex social systems evolve from solitary ancestors that looked much like today's cockroaches?

12 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Ancient DNA reveals 12,000-year-old case of rare genetic disease

Researchers led by the University of Vienna and Liège University Hospital Center have identified genetic variants associated with a rare inherited growth disorder in two prehistoric individuals who lived more than 12,000 ...

17 hours ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / What ice-fishing competitions reveal about human decision-making

Whether gathering berries, hunting, or fishing, humans searching for food make decisions not only based on personal experience but also by observing others. In a large-scale field study, an international team of researchers ...

12 hours ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Photocatalysis enables direct coupling of native sugars and N-heteroarenes

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a "capping-and-coupling" strategy to transform naturally occurring (native) sugars directly into compounds known as C-heteroaryl glycosides. This ...

12 hours ago in Chemistry