Phys.org news
Phys.org / Hypersonic impact rapidly transforms diamond into graphite, revealing energy-absorbing mechanism
Rice University researchers have developed a way to stabilize diamond during high-temperature and low-pressure processing, creating a strong bulk composite and discovering that high-speed collisions can rapidly transform ...
Phys.org / Messy life-producing cellular process caught in action for first time
All living things have a fleet of tiny copy machines that turn instructions from DNA into RNA molecules responsible for helping build proteins that keep organisms alive. One of those nanoscale machines, called eukaryotic ...
Phys.org / From the lab to headlines: Why do some studies make the news while others don't?
When we read a news story about a new cancer treatment, an Alzheimer's breakthrough or an innovative technology, we rarely think about everything that happens behind the scenes before that information reaches newspapers, ...
Phys.org / Why social media algorithms send you posts you don't like
Do your social media accounts feed you content that reflects your core beliefs and guiding principles? Our new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that the algorithms supplying ...
Phys.org / Dark energy and quantum gravity may be deeply intertwined
For close to a century, physicists have pursued a way to unite gravity with quantum mechanics. Known as quantum gravity, this goal has remained frustratingly out of reach so far. Similarly elusive is the force of dark energy, ...
Phys.org / Intense light bent out of shape—ultrafast lenses made from gas
Researchers from the MPIK in Heidelberg used an atomic gas as a time-dependent lens to shape and spectrally manipulate intense high-frequency laser pulses. This gas-based optical element could pave the way toward better XUV- ...
Phys.org / China's solar push linked to bird diversity losses across 2,344 counties
The global push for solar energy expansion could carry hidden biodiversity costs, according to a study across China published in the journal Science on Thursday.
Phys.org / 'Shaking up' biofilm research: Active topography reduces bacterial infections
The use of antibiotics has traditionally been considered the gold standard in bacterial infection control—the more bacterial cells you kill, and the faster you kill them, the better. University of Tennessee, Knoxville Professor ...
Phys.org / 'Wall-to-wall' map of NYC trees could help cool cities worldwide
Researchers have created an interactive map identifying 1.8 million individual trees in New York City, using a new approach that could optimize the placement of trees for cooling in cities around the world.
Phys.org / How well do past extinctions predict extinction risk today?
In the last few centuries, mammals and other animals have been going extinct at least 100 times faster than they did before humans arrived on the scene. So who will be next? Which species are most likely to survive, and which ...
Phys.org / Extreme rain shifts toward larger, less frequent storms across eastern US
Extreme precipitation events are among the most damaging natural disasters and a major concern in our changing climate. In the U.S., since 1980, the most destructive events alone have caused more than 2,800 deaths and $700 ...
Phys.org / Natural forest regrowth offers a lower-cost path to climate and biodiversity goals
As nations race to restore ecosystems and curb climate change, research has shown that letting nature do the work is a cost-effective, viable solution. A study from the University of Queensland and the University of Newcastle ...