Phys.org news
Phys.org / Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere may owe its existence to cold subduction
Earth was mostly devoid of oxygen for much of its 4.5 billion year lifetime. That is, until certain processes started to allow for the eventual buildup of oxygen up to the levels we have now (around 21% of the atmosphere). ...
Phys.org / An invisible battle between bacteria determines the flavor and safety of salami
Fermentation is one of the oldest methods of preserving food. Long before refrigerators existed, people relied on microorganisms to keep food—including meat—safe to eat. Ph.D. research by VUB researcher Ana Sosa Fajardo (VUB ...
Phys.org / Memory-preserving transistors could bypass the Boltzmann limit
Researchers have created a new theoretical framework that shows how memory-preserving "memtransistors" could overcome the intrinsic limits in efficiency faced by conventional semiconductor transistors, imposed by the laws ...
Phys.org / Dying cells don't all release key inflammatory cytokine in the same way, research reveals
Researchers at Toho University have uncovered a previously unrecognized mechanism controlling how dying cells release the inflammatory cytokine IL-33, a key driver of allergy, asthma, tissue inflammation, and cancer progression. ...
Phys.org / The strange quantum property of tomorrow's insulator
Ultra-fast data transfer and superconductivity: Quantum materials offer significant technological prospects—if we can understand them at the atomic scale. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), in collaboration with ...
Phys.org / Women's faces outrank men's in attractiveness across cultures, global study shows
Why are women considered the "fairer sex" in humans, when in most animal species it is males that display the more elaborate and visually striking traits? This question has intrigued researchers since Darwin. A new large-scale ...
Phys.org / Quantum teleportation carries microwave states at temperatures up to 4 K, beating classical limit
A growing number of quantum engineers worldwide have been trying to realize large-scale quantum networks, which consist of several connected quantum computers or devices that share information with each other. The successful ...
Phys.org / As snow droughts continue to threaten global food security, research calls for climate-resilient agriculture practices
Global climate change is reshaping agricultural ecosystems. As warmer winters become more prevalent, snow droughts caused by insufficient snowfall are becoming more frequent. This leaves winter wheat, which relies on snow ...
Phys.org / Fake predator eyes scare off seabirds until they learn they're not real
In Danish fisheries, fish-eating seabirds are a menace. They often swoop down and feed on fish trapped in nets, which can hit profits and also sometimes lead to the accidental death of the birds. So scientists deployed an ...
Phys.org / Coral study could help explain infertility and ovarian cancer by decoding cilia-driven fluid flows
A study by researchers at The University of Manchester, carried out alongside the Universities of Melbourne and Copenhagen, could hold the key to understanding the causes of long-term health problems, such as infertility ...
Phys.org / Reconstructed 1.5‑billion‑year‑old protein network reveals hundreds of hidden disease‑linked genes
A University of Texas at Austin-led team has reconstructed the most detailed map to date of the molecular machines that carried out the functions of life in an ancient ancestor that gave rise to all complex life on Earth, ...
Phys.org / Fish have no necks, yet this ancient balancing trick keeps their heads startlingly steady in motion
Postural control is a fundamental behavior for most animals, and head stability in particular plays a crucial role in achieving stable sensory input, accurate spatial perception, and efficient motor output. Tetrapods, including ...
