Phys.org news
Phys.org / Doubling down on metasurfaces: Bilayer device can control many forms of polarized light
Almost a decade ago, Harvard engineers unveiled the world's first visible-spectrum metasurfaces—ultra-thin, flat devices patterned with nanoscale structures that could precisely control the behavior of light. A powerful ...
Phys.org / Tree rings from Canada's Gaspésie mountains reveal effects of global warming dating back almost a century
A study of tree rings in the Gaspesie's Sainte-Anne River area reveals that snowpacks have been declining noticeably in the region's mountains for nearly nine decades. The researchers say the phenomenon is directly linked ...
Phys.org / Giving up on photosynthesis: How a borrowed bacterial gene allows some marine diatoms to live on a seaweed diet
A group of diatom species belonging to the Nitzschia genus gave up on photosynthesis and now get their carbon straight from their environment, thanks to a bacterial gene picked up by an ancestor. Gregory Jedd of Temasek Life ...
Phys.org / A validated model can predict the growth of Listeria in artisanal fresh cheeses
Listeriosis is one of the main zoonotic food-borne diseases, and although the number of cases is relatively low, its high mortality makes it a major public health problem. For the bacterium to cause disease, it is not enough ...
Phys.org / Liquid-bodied robot enables precise eradication of implant-related biofilm infections
An international research team led by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has achieved a breakthrough in the field of medical microrobots by developing the world's first antibiofilm liquid-bodied magnetic-controlled ...
Phys.org / Vincent van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' is not a masterpiece when it comes to flow physics, researchers say
The Dutch master Vincent van Gogh may have painted one of Western history's most enduring works, but "The Starry Night" is not a masterpiece of flow physics—despite recent attention to its captivating swirls, according ...
Phys.org / Use of antifungals in agriculture may increase resistance in an infectious yeast
Genomic changes in the infectious yeast Candida tropicalis may play a role in its resistance to antifungals, according to a study published in PLOS Biology. The work, led by Guanghua Huang at Fudan University, China, and ...
Phys.org / Efficient self-assembly enhances self-healing in advanced siloxane materials
Polysiloxane materials, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based elastomers, exhibit a self-healing capability by the introduction of silanolate (Si–O–) groups. This ability stems from their dynamic siloxane (Si–O–Si) ...
Phys.org / Live-cell labeling sheds light on how our DNA is packed and behaves in cells
A team led by Professor Kazuhiro Maeshima of the National Institute of Genetics (ROIS) and SOKENDAI in Japan has developed a method to visualize different types of chromatin and reveal their distinct physical properties. ...
Phys.org / Mysterious falcon decline: American Kestrel juveniles thrive amid population drop
North America's smallest falcon, the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), has declined across the continent since the 1970s, yet the causes continue to stump raptor biologists. A new study published in the Journal of Raptor ...
Phys.org / Hidden virus harbored by fruit flies may influence experimental accuracy
Researchers have revealed that the presence of Nora virus in fruit flies can increase their sensitivity to bacterial infection and could limit their lifespan.
Phys.org / New agent inhibits Staphylococcus aureus toxin—giving hope to pneumonia patients
An international research group led by the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) has discovered a promising new drug candidate against severe lung infections caused by the hospital germ Staphylococcus aureus. The ...