Phys.org news
Phys.org / Key switch controlling soil fungi symbiosis could solve a longstanding agricultural problem
Over the course of evolution, plants have developed an elegant strategy to counteract a lack of phosphate in the soil—they form symbiotic relationships with soil fungi. These mycorrhizal fungi efficiently supply their plant ...
Phys.org / Stressed crystal creates nanoscale patterns on chip materials at room temperature
A new chip-making technique exploits a material's crystal structure to create nanoscale patterns at room temperature directly onto hard materials used in devices, including silica. The method could make it easier to pattern ...
Phys.org / Understanding the mechanisms of collective cell movement
Like schools of fish and flocks of birds, our cells can also migrate collectively in coordination with their neighbors. This harmonious movement of cells occurs during embryonic development, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. ...
Phys.org / Making biomolecules glow: New dye solves imaging interference problem
Biomolecules, also known as organic molecules, include sugars, proteins and lipids and are the building blocks of all life. They play a role in the structure and metabolism of all living organisms. To make them visible under ...
Phys.org / Student talent drives simpler method for programming artificial muscles in soft robots
An interdisciplinary student research team at the University of Waterloo has achieved an advance in materials science with the creation of a tissue-like hydrogel for artificial muscles to make soft robots move.
Phys.org / Seagrass found to produce new genetic individuals rather than clone itself, offering hope for 'underwater meadows'
In many underwater ecosystems, seagrass meadows act as a food source, a safe haven, and an ecological lynchpin. But until now, very little was known about how these plants reproduce—critical information for conserving the ...
Phys.org / Ancient DNA reveals web of marriage and migration in Peru centuries before Inca rule
Long-distance migration along Peru's Pacific coast began at least 800 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire and much earlier than previously thought, a new international study reveals.
Phys.org / Imaging ellipsometry tracks MXene thin-film quality during fabrication without damage
A German–Israeli research team led by Dr. Andreas Furchner has demonstrated how imaging ellipsometry enables non-destructive characterization and quality control of microstructured MXene thin films during device fabrication. ...
Phys.org / Superconducting vortices moonlight as controllable qubits, turning a disruption into a resource
Vortices in superconductors have so far been considered a disruption, as they can impair the superconducting properties. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have proved in experiments that magnetic ...
Phys.org / Using pulsars as ultra-precise gravitational probes to 'weigh' neighboring galaxies
Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, have identified a promising new method for measuring the mass of galaxies orbiting the Milky Way by using pulsars, ...
Phys.org / How the Great Pyramid of Giza has survived 4,500 years of Egyptian earthquakes
The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt has survived more than 4,500 years. Earthquakes have repeatedly shaken the region, including the magnitude 5.8 Cairo earthquake in 1992, which dislodged some of the pyramid's outer casing ...
Phys.org / Second ribosome binding site helps explain how tetracyclines work
For decades, doctors have widely used tetracyclines for conditions ranging from acne to tick-borne illnesses. Using high-resolution imaging technology, researchers in the laboratory of Christopher Bunick, MD, Ph.D., associate ...
