Phys.org news
Phys.org / Anthropologist uncovers the 11,000-year history of avocado domestication
Today's avocado industry, a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise, relies primarily on a single variety: the Hass avocado. This monoculture approach poses significant risks, as genetically identical plants are more vulnerable ...
Phys.org / Quantum spin currents in graphene without external magnetic fields pave way for ultra-thin spintronics
Scientists from TU Delft (The Netherlands) have observed quantum spin currents in graphene for the first time without using magnetic fields. These currents are vital for spintronics, a faster and more energy-efficient alternative ...
Phys.org / Affordable laser could be mass-produced for use in self-driving cars and fiber optics
Laser technology is used in many areas, where precise measurements are required and in communication. This means that they are important for everything from self-driving cars to the fiber optic internet and for detecting ...
Phys.org / Researchers confirm fundamental conservation laws at the quantum level
Researchers at Tampere University and their collaborators from Germany and India have experimentally confirmed that angular momentum is conserved when a single photon is converted into a pair—validating a key principle ...
Phys.org / Scientists use gene editing to correct harmful mitochondrial mutations in human cells
In a step toward treating mitochondrial diseases, researchers in the Netherlands have successfully edited harmful mutations in mitochondrial DNA using a genetic tool known as a base editor. The results, published in the open-access ...
Phys.org / Metal-organic frameworks with metallic conductivity pave new paths for electronics and energy storage
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are characterized by high porosity and structural versatility. They have enormous potential, for example, for applications in electronics. However, their low electrical conductivity has so ...
Phys.org / Artificial heterostructure shows tunable photovoltaic effect for next-generation solar cells
As we witness the detrimental effects of climate change, the need for a rapid shift to renewable energy is only becoming more urgent. One of the most efficient forms of renewable energy, solar power, is generated by solar ...
Phys.org / Super-resolution imaging reveals the first step of planet formation after star birth
Identifying the formation period of planetary systems, such as our solar system, could be the beginning of the journey to discover the origin of life. The key to this is the unique substructures found in protoplanetary disks—the ...
Phys.org / Study reveals the surprising and twisty path our ancestors took to develop an upright stance
For over a century, scientists have puzzled over a fundamental mystery in our evolutionary history: how did mammals go from sprawling like lizards to striding like cats and dogs? This transition—from a sprawled stance (like ...
Phys.org / World's soft coral diversity retains signature of an ancient, vanished sea
On occasion, it is of vital importance to consider how little we know about the spinning rock we all live on. Take coral reefs, for example. Given how much they've been studied, you'd think we've learned just about everything ...
Phys.org / Carbon record reveals evidence of extensive human fire use 50,000 years ago
Fire is an ancient natural phenomenon that has shaped our planet for more than 400 million years. It alters habitats, affects the carbon cycle, and is closely linked to changes in climate and vegetation.
Phys.org / Wildlife forensic scientists develop new tool to detect elephant ivory disguised as legal mammoth ivory
To save elephant populations from extinction, the international community banned the sale of their ivory—but selling mammoth ivory remains legal, and the two are difficult to tell apart, especially for non-experts. This ...
