Phys.org news
Phys.org / One fifth of flowering plant evolutionary history is at risk of extinction, experts warn
In a new study published in the journal Science, researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and their international collaborators including Boise State University present the first ...
Phys.org / New task-setting study shows that male bumblebees are more active and adaptable
Male bumblebees are more active and flexible in behavior than female bees, new University of Chester–led research has found, after creating tasks to analyze how the insects explore, recognize colors and learn to earn rewards. ...
Phys.org / Ancient sea fossils indicate millipede and centipede ancestors evolved their legs while still underwater
The myriapoda group of arthropods includes the many-legged centipedes and millipedes that most people are familiar with. Although myriapods are all terrestrial creatures, researchers are unclear about when and how they evolved ...
Phys.org / Scientists unlock fungi's secret chemistry, offering a greener path to crop protection
Pesky pests can wreak havoc on plants by chewing leaves, boring into stems, and sucking sap from trees. Beyond the direct damage, they also spread harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can infect and ultimately kill the ...
Phys.org / Testing quantum collapse theory with the XENONnT dark matter detector
Theories of quantum mechanics predict that some particles can exist in superpositions, which essentially means that they can be in more than one state at once. When a particle's state is measured, however, this superposition ...
Phys.org / Modern experiments suggest rhino teeth may have been part of Neanderthal toolkits
Neanderthals may not only have feasted on rhinoceroses, they may also have used their exceptionally hard teeth as specialized tools for a range of tasks, such as retouching the edges of stone tools.
Phys.org / Streetlights trigger bizarre 'death spirals' in thousands of isopods, scientists find
A new study led by Ph.D. student Idan Sheizaf, under the guidance of Prof. Ariel Chipman from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has documented a never-before-seen behavioral phenomenon: thousands of land-dwelling isopods ...
Phys.org / Ice Age butcher's tools are a sign of ancient humans' creativity during hard times
In central China, scientists have spent over a decade excavating and studying an archaeological site where ancient humans butchered animals. Amidst bones, archaeologists found complex stone tools that would have required ...
Phys.org / Mobile qubits on a chip move us a step closer to everyday quantum computers
For years, quantum computers have lived under a huge bubble of hype, promising to revolutionize numerous fields, from medicine and battery design to materials science and cybersecurity. But realizing their potential on any ...
Phys.org / For years, reading struggles seemed obvious. This massive analysis points to a very different cause
For decades, the common explanation for why children struggle to read has stayed remarkably consistent. Smart kids read well. Kids who don't simply aren't smart enough. And when children strain over a page, the assumption ...
Phys.org / Ultrasound waves rupture COVID-19 and flu viruses without damaging cells
Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have discovered that high-frequency ultrasound waves similar to those used in medical exams can eliminate viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 without damaging human ...
Phys.org / Rapidly melting Antarctic ice shelves may cause global sea levels to rise far faster than expected
Global sea levels may rise faster than previously expected, suggests a new study in Nature Communications. The reason is that warming oceans appear to be melting Antarctic ice shelves from below much more rapidly than expected.
