Phys.org news

Phys.org / Why rainfall remains hard to predict in a warming world

A new study led by the University of Oxford and ETH Zurich reveals that a key part of the climate system—the large-scale wind patterns that determine where rain falls—can be underestimated by current climate models, helping ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / AI discovery reveals DNA isn't locked away in cells after all

Every cell in the human body squeezes over six feet of DNA into a minuscule speck invisible to the naked eye—like compressing a whole house into a single sugar cube. In order to fit in a cell and remain organized, DNA is ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / The battle of the sexes in the egg: How early nuclear rivalry helps embryos develop properly

The sperm and the egg cell's nuclei compete for size directly after fertilization and this is necessary for proper embryonic development. A mouse study with Kobe University participation finally gives meaning to a phenomenon ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / How cells decide when to react could shape future treatments for cancer and fibrosis

Scientists have discovered how cells decide when to respond to physical forces, potentially opening new avenues for tackling diseases such as cancer and fibrosis.

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Radioactive imaging reveals ants' secret food networks

Researchers at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and the University of the Ryukyus have developed a new imaging method that makes it possible to see, in real time, how food is distributed and ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / 'Ruthless predator' of red tide plankton reveals unusual bioluminescence

Scientists at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have uncovered new insights into the bioluminescence of a unique species of marine plankton that feeds on other plankton, including the harmful algae responsible ...

4 hours ago
Phys.org / No brain required: This is how the single-celled Stentor learns

Scientists have known for more than a century that a single-celled organism with no nerve cells—much less a brain—can behave in ways that resemble learning. But those observations only went so far. How the organism did that ...

4 hours ago
Phys.org / Ancient farming clues may finally expose where humanity's most important wheat first emerged

The exact origin of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is still a mystery, but researchers believe they are edging closer to the source of one of the most important food staples worldwide. Using genetic studies and ancient plant ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / How a free flow of information can amplify incorrect ideas

The idea that information should flow freely is deeply embedded in the design of social media. The assumption is that the more information is produced and shared, the better. However, simulations by a team of scientists including ...

19 hours ago
Phys.org / Invisible fertility crisis: Chemicals and climate change threaten reproduction across species

The rise in infertility is not limited to humans, as environmental stressors are quietly undermining the reproductive potential of different forms of life. A recent review published in npj Emerging Contaminants investigated ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Thinner than hair and stretchable like rubber, this new shield tackles a space-age problem in one layer

Shielding materials are essential in key modern industrial settings—such as spacecraft, nuclear power plants, semiconductor equipment, and advanced medical devices—to protect both equipment and personnel from electromagnetic ...

19 hours ago
Phys.org / Atlantic Forest's top predator faces a hidden collapse, and protected areas are no longer enough

In addition to habitat loss and illegal hunting, the jaguar (Panthera onca) faces another threat that increases its risk of extinction in the South American Atlantic Forest: food scarcity. A study by Brazilian researchers ...

18 hours ago