Phys.org news

Phys.org / Atoms passing through walls: Quantum tunneling of hydrogen within palladium crystal

At low temperatures, hydrogen atoms move less like particles and more like waves. This characteristic enables quantum tunneling, the passage of an atom through a barrier with a higher potential energy than the energy of the ...

17 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Laser-induced break-up of C₆₀ fullerenes caught in real-time on X-ray camera

The understanding of complex many-body dynamics in laser-driven polyatomic molecules is crucial for any attempt to steer chemical reactions by means of intense light fields. Ultrashort and intense X-ray pulses from accelerator-based ...

17 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / New membrane sets record for separating hydrogen from CO₂

When designing membranes that separate industrial gases, scientists often incorporate structures that attract the gas they want to obtain. This attraction can enhance the membrane's permeability, and help isolate the desired ...

17 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Unlocking the genome's hidden half with new DNA sequencing technology

Cornell researchers have found that a new DNA sequencing technology can be used to study how transposons move within and bind to the genome. Transposons play critical roles in immune response, neurological function and genetic ...

17 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Biodegradable mulching film can protect plants without pesticides or plastics

Whether you're a home gardener or an industrial farmer, you might be familiar with mulching films—plastic sheets laid over the soil to protect seedlings and promote crop growth. But like many other plastic materials, these ...

18 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / What would a small black hole do to the human body? Scientist aims to answer that

Some people may worry about being bitten by a snake or spider, but have you ever considered what would happen if a small black hole tried to pass through your body?

20 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Male green hermit hummingbirds: Bills evolved for battle

Let's get one thing out of the way: All hummingbirds fight. Most species fight for food, using their tiny bodies and sharp bills to force competitors away from flowers. But the green hermit hummingbird, which lives primarily ...

17 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Mercury pollution in marine mammals is increasing, new study finds

In 2017, a new global treaty was meant to bring mercury pollution under control. But three decades of data from UK harbor porpoises show mercury is still increasing, and is linked to a higher risk of dying from infectious ...

17 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Understanding intrinsically disordered protein regions and their roles in cancer

Every function in a cell is associated with a particular protein or group of proteins, typically in a well-defined three-dimensional structure. However, intrinsically disordered regions of proteins defy this structure-function ...

17 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Artificial cartilage mimics natural flexibility with adjustable structure

A Washington State University research team is working to create an artificial cartilage that is similar to natural cartilage with a recipe that can be corrected along the way.

18 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Synthesizing stable, open-chain amines with nitrogen-based chirality

A research team from Prof. Benjamin List's department at the Max Planck Institut für Kohlenforschung has solved a long-elusive riddle of chemistry: the synthesis of stable, open-chain amines that carry their chirality on ...

17 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Symmetry simplifies quantum noise analysis, paving way for better error correction

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have achieved a breakthrough in quantum noise characterization in quantum systems—a key ...

18 hours ago in Physics