Phys.org news
Phys.org / Overturning a 200-year belief: New surface design enables two distinct wetting states on a single substrate
NIMS discovered a phenomenon in which droplets on a single solid surface exhibit both a "sticky" and "repellent" state simultaneously. Namely, the wetting behavior branches into two states. This is a discovery that overturns ...
Phys.org / Lab fish cycles are hours out of sync with natural ones, researchers discover
When researchers moved medaka—a fish commonly used in experiments—out of the lab and into more natural conditions, their reproductive clock shifted by hours, suggesting that laboratory findings may not fully capture their ...
Phys.org / New field evidence from Canada shows old wells can leave a hidden leakage footprint
Old oil and gas wells may continue to affect the environment long after they have stopped producing, with new field evidence showing that their leakage footprint can be broader and more persistent than surface methane measurements ...
Phys.org / How face-building genes get ready early: Genome folding may prime crucial DNA switches
Early in development, a group of migrating cells called cranial neural crest cells go on to form many different parts of the face, including the nose, jaw, ears, and throat. To build these structures correctly, genes must ...
Phys.org / Why meat-eating dinosaurs like T. rex evolved tiny arms
The evolution of tiny arms in several groups of meat-eating dinosaurs was likely driven by the development of strong, powerful heads, which were used to attack prey, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL (University ...
Phys.org / Rare seals hide in underwater bubble caves to escape tourists
The uninhabited islet of Formicula in Greece's Inner Ionian archipelago is a popular tourist draw for its clear waters, swimming spots, and marine diversity. A major attraction is the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world's ...
Phys.org / Consistency check casts doubt on evolving dark energy
Cosmologists have long struggled to determine whether the universe's accelerating expansion is being driven by a simple cosmological constant, or whether dark energy's influence is evolving over time. In a new analysis published ...
Phys.org / How a 4,000-year-old city defied history's 'rules' by becoming more equal as it became more successful
For decades, historians have generally agreed that the progress of small villages as they evolved into cities came at the price of widening inequality. A small group of leaders, kings and priests, would inevitably seize control ...
Phys.org / Less low cloud cover lets in more heat from the sun—and may lock in centuries of sea level rise
According to NOAA, the global average sea level has risen 8–9 inches (21–24 centimeters) since 1880. The rate at which the sea level is rising is increasing, threatening coastal cities and ecosystems around the world.
Phys.org / Tritium-infused graphene could sharpen the hunt for neutrino mass
While neutrinos are some of the most abundant particles in the universe, they remain among the least understood. One of the biggest puzzles is their mass: although experiments have shown that neutrinos must have some mass, ...
Phys.org / A de-extinction company has hatched live chicks from an artificial eggshell
A biotech company that aims to resurrect lost creatures said Tuesday it has hatched live chicks in an artificial environment—a development that was met with mixed reviews from scientists and critics of its de-extinction mission.
Phys.org / Climate catch-22: Cleaning up air pollution could speed key Atlantic current decline
It may sound counterintuitive, but new research suggests that cleaning up air pollution could contribute to a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This is the ocean current system that acts ...