Phys.org news
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.
Phys.org / From pantry to pest control: Garlic kills the mood for mosquitoes as well
Garlic is not a substance that most people consider an aphrodisiac. It turns out that mosquitoes agree. In fact, a new Yale study finds that garlic also functions as a de facto birth control for mosquitoes and other winged ...
Phys.org / Photonics advance could enable compact, high-performance lidar sensors
Lidar systems use pulses of infrared light to measure distance and map a 3D scene with high resolution, allowing autonomous vehicles to rapidly react to obstacles that appear in their path. But traditional lidar sensors are ...
Phys.org / Quantum metallurgy: Electron crystals deform and melt
In a process analogous to how solids melt into liquids, the electrons in many different metals form crystal-like patterns that can deform and melt, opening new pathways for neuromorphic computing and superconductors, University ...
Phys.org / Researchers combine five metals to build a better nanocrystal
A nanocrystal is an extraordinarily tiny piece of material—composed of anywhere from a few to a few thousand atoms—in which atoms are arranged in a precise, ordered structure. Think of it like taking a piece of gold and shrinking ...