Phys.org news
Phys.org / Ancient Neanderthal genome reveals isolated, distinct populations
Neanderthals split into distinct regional groups that developed genetic differences far sooner than modern human populations typically did, according to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ...
Phys.org / ZTF discovers a new mass-transferring brown dwarf binary system
Astronomers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and elsewhere report the discovery of a binary system consisting of two brown dwarfs undergoing stable mass transfer. The detection of the system, designated ...
Phys.org / How graphene oxide kills bacteria while sparing human cells
Hygiene in everyday items that touch the body—such as clothing, masks, and toothbrushes—is critically important. The underlying principle of how graphene selectively eliminates only bacteria has now been revealed. In Advanced ...
Phys.org / Quadratic gravity theory reshapes quantum view of Big Bang
Waterloo scientists have developed a new way to understand how the universe began, and it could change what we know about the Big Bang and the earliest moments of cosmic history. Their work suggests that the universe's rapid ...
Phys.org / Binding to RNA is not enough—changing its shape is what makes a drug work, study reveals
Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) serve as messengers between DNA and protein production, and perform a wide variety of regulatory functions across different cellular processes. This makes them an interesting target for drug designers. ...
Phys.org / Seals use whisker movement to follow underwater trails—an approach that could improve robotic sensing
Seals are carnivorous marine mammals that are well adapted to hunting for fish underwater, where visibility is poor. In such conditions, seals rely on their highly sensitive whiskers to detect tiny water movements left behind ...
Phys.org / A mass mating event in the lab reveals how yeast cells choose partners
While humans often struggle to find a partner who is both physically attractive and a reliable co-parent, yeast may already have cracked the formula for the perfect match. When choosing mates, these single-celled organisms ...
Phys.org / How internal waves transport energy thousands of miles across the ocean
Both winds and tides inject energy into the ocean. Much of that energy is then transported up to thousands of miles by internal waves: large-scale underwater waves that can travel between ocean basins. Quantifying the amount ...
Phys.org / Eco-friendly hair repair adds to more natural personal care product pipeline
Hair damaged by dyes, bleaching or harsh sunlight has just got special treatment. Green chemistry researchers at Flinders University are experimenting with plant-based oils to develop a promising new structural keratin-type ...
Phys.org / Human brain operates near, but not at, the critical point
A recent study published in Physical Review Letters reveals that many widely used signatures of criticality in brain data may be statistical artifacts. They propose a more robust framework that, when applied to whole-brain ...
Phys.org / Scandinavia's largest 'burial mound' may be a monument to catastrophe, not a king
New LiDAR analysis suggests Raknehaugen may have been built in response to a devastating landslide, not to honor a high-status individual. The study by Lars Gustavsen, published in the European Journal of Archaeology, challenges ...
Phys.org / AI-driven framework uncovers new carbon structures—one thought to be harder than diamond
Through new improvements to existing AI models, researchers in China have created a framework that can methodically identify useful new forms of solid carbon. With their approach, Zhibin Gao and colleagues at Xi'an Jiaotong ...
