Phys.org news
Phys.org / Archaeologists uncover centuries-old mystery of Tampa Bay's secret community of migrant potters
About 100 years ago, archaeologists unearthing pottery sherds in Tampa Bay found something unexpected. Some of the fragments they recovered had designs nearly identical to decorated pottery found hundreds of miles to the ...
Phys.org / Superdense neutron star caught feeding on a blue hypergiant's stellar wind
Using data from the Japan–led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory, astronomers have directly observed a giant star's outflow, called a stellar wind, being captured by its compact companion and providing ...
Phys.org / Two new large stick insect species discovered in Australia's backyards and rainforests
Insect "detectives" have discovered two new types of large stick insects, showing scientists are still uncovering new species in some of Australia's most well-studied landscapes. Researchers at the University of Sydney have ...
Phys.org / End of humanity? Blow‑by‑blow account of what would happen if the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted now
Around 631,000 years ago—a geological blink of an eye—catastrophe unfolded in what is now northwestern Wyoming, U.S. During what is thought to have been a series of immense volcanic eruptions, life within hundreds of kilometers ...
Dialog / From spider webs to mosaics: How nanosheets of graphene oxide control the patterns left by a drying droplet
A drop of coffee on a tabletop often leaves a dark ring behind. This everyday mark is a reminder that a drying droplet is not passive: As water evaporates, it can transport the particles suspended inside it toward the edge. ...
Phys.org / Student-led missions deploy free-flying light sails from CubeSats in low Earth orbit
Students in Cornell's Space Systems Design Studio (SSDS) have released mission results for two unique light-sail experiments. These sails are slightly larger than a pizza box and harness momentum from photons to accelerate ...
Phys.org / AI tool compares 125 cell types across 700 million years of evolution
A KAUST-led team has developed the AI tool Unify to help scientists compare similar cell types across distant species. This comparison can help researchers assess which findings from animal studies may be most relevant to ...
Phys.org / A newly discovered mechanism helps cells prevent errors during DNA replication
At the scale of individual cells, the human body is constantly in motion. Every second, millions of cells divide, particularly in tissues such as the bone marrow, intestine and skin; neurons and heart muscle cells divide ...
Phys.org / Satellite record reveals Arctic melt season has plateaued after decades of lengthening
For decades, Arctic sea ice has been melting earlier in spring and freezing later in fall, extending the melt season and contributing to widespread ice loss. A new NASA-led study published in Communications Earth & Environment ...
Phys.org / Truckee River microplastics rise nearly tenfold during high spring flows
The ubiquitous plastics of modern life are degrading into tiny fragments and littering Earth's landscapes and waterways. Scientists are starting to examine and measure this phenomenon to better understand how microplastics ...
Phys.org / Engineered nanoparticles sensitize gliomas to radiotherapy
Gliomas are a major cause of cancer-related deaths in younger adults. About 7,000 patients harbor a common genetic mutation that affects the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 1. This mutated enzyme, called mIDH1, can produce ...
Phys.org / Scientists reveal how our cells conduct emergency repairs for DNA
Two new studies from Johns Hopkins University are providing scientists with an unprecedented view of how human cells repair one of the most dangerous forms of genetic damage: a break that severs both strands of the DNA double ...