Phys.org news
Phys.org / 'One of the most important species for science': How the humble fruit fly transformed four fields of research
The common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), more correctly called the vinegar fly, is a frequent visitor to ripe fruit in households around the world, where it often deposits eggs on rotting flesh without being noticed. ...
Phys.org / Scientists reveal overlooked ocean processes crucial for carbon storage
A new study has unveiled the key mechanisms that preserve organic carbon in the ocean—a poorly understood but vital process that influences the Earth's climate, carbon cycles, and formation of fossil fuels.
Phys.org / A new look at the peculiarities of crop-pollinator interactions could boost plant quality
Pollination by animals contributes to a third of global food production, but little research has been done into the extent to which the identity of pollinators, pollen and crop varieties influence fruit quality when it comes ...
Phys.org / Bioengineers develop construction kit for 'smart cell' design
Rice University bioengineers have developed a new construction kit for building custom sense-and-respond circuits in human cells. The research, published in the journal Science, represents a major breakthrough in the field ...
Phys.org / Growing divide: Agricultural climate policies affect food prices differently in poor and wealthy countries
Farmers are receiving less of what consumers spend on food, as modern food systems increasingly direct costs toward value-added components like processing, transport, and marketing. A new study by the Potsdam Institute for ...
Phys.org / North Carolina's coastal tourism could decline due to salty tap water
Sea level rise is an ever-pressing concern as climate change melts ice sheets. Coastal flooding is an unfortunate consequence, which can have a devastating impact on the local environment, including an unexpected toll on ...
Phys.org / How does a hula hoop master gravity? Mathematicians prove that body shape matters
Hula hooping is so commonplace that we may overlook some interesting questions it raises: "What keeps a hula hoop up against gravity?" and "Are some body types better for hula hooping than others?" A team of mathematicians ...
Phys.org / Yellowstone's volcanic activity is shifting to the northeast, geologists find
A team of geologists at the US Geological Survey, working with a trio of colleagues from Oregon State University, and another from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has found evidence of rhyolitic volcanism in Yellowstone ...
Phys.org / Two luminous flares detected from a nearby tidal disruption event
A group of astronomers from numerous institutions have investigated a recently discovered nearby tidal disruption event known as ASASSN-22ci. They detected two luminous flares from this event. The finding was reported in ...
Phys.org / Unusual binary system hosts a massive fast-spinning white dwarf
In a recent study, an Italian astronomer has investigated the nature of a binary system known as HD 49798/RX J0648.0–4418. Results of the new research, published Dec. 24 on the preprint server arXiv, yield important insights ...
Phys.org / Nanoparticle technique gauges bite force in tiny C. elegans worms
A team of materials scientists, physicists, mechanical engineers, and molecular physiologists at Stanford University have developed a nanoparticle technique that can be used to measure force dynamics inside a living creature, ...
Phys.org / Gene expression study reveals human brain cell types becoming more specialized, not just more numerous
Our brain is arguably the organ that most distinguishes humans from other primates. Its exceptional size, complexity and capabilities far exceed those of any other species on Earth. Yet humans share upwards of 95% of our ...