Phys.org news
Phys.org / How volcanic eruptions set off a chain of events that brought the Black Death to Europe
Clues contained in tree rings have identified mid-14th-century volcanic activity as the first domino to fall in a sequence that led to the devastation of the Black Death in Europe.
Phys.org / Magnetism switching in antiferromagnets: Two distinct mechanisms successfully visualized
A research team led by Ryo Shimano of the University of Tokyo has successfully visualized two distinct mechanisms through which up and down spins, inherent properties of electrons, switch in an antiferromagnet, a material ...
Phys.org / 'Free-range' dinosaur parenting may have created surprisingly diverse ancient ecosystems
Picture a baby Brachiosaurus the size of a golden retriever, hunting for food with its siblings while dodging predators that would happily eat it. Meanwhile, its parents—towering over 40 feet tall—are dozens of miles ...
Phys.org / Seeding jet exhaust with ice-nucleating particles could reduce aviation's climate impact
If you look up at the sky on a clear day, chances are you'll notice thin, white clouds—also known as contrails—following behind airplanes.
Phys.org / A direct leap into terahertz: Dirac materials enable efficient signal conversion at room temperature
Highspeed Internet, autonomous driving, the Internet of Things: data streams are proliferating at enormous speed. But classic radio technology is reaching its limits: the higher the data rate, the faster the signals need ...
Phys.org / How cells change their minds and save their work in progress
All cells need to sense and respond to their environment, to know when to activate genes, build proteins, and carry out their basic functions. One of the most well-studied cellular responses is how they react during times ...
Phys.org / Frequent flares from TRAPPIST-1 could impact habitability of nearby planets
Like a toddler right before naptime, TRAPPIST-1 is a small yet moody star. This little star, which sits in the constellation Aquarius about 40 light-years from Earth, spits out bursts of energy known as "flares" about six ...
Phys.org / Sargasso Sea shift reveals dramatic decline in some historic seaweed populations
A study led by researchers at the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science has found that certain populations of the seaweed sargassum have experienced a significant decline over the past decade, even as increased ...
Phys.org / High-energy-density barocaloric material could enable smaller, lighter solid-state cooling devices
A collaborative research team from the Institute of Solid State Physics, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has discovered a high-energy-density barocaloric effect in the plastic ...
Phys.org / Iron-based magnetic material achieves major reduction in core loss
A research team from NIMS, Tohoku University and AIST has developed a new technique for controlling the nanostructures and magnetic domain structures of iron-based soft amorphous ribbons, achieving more than a 50% reduction ...
Phys.org / K'gari's world famous lakes could be at risk of drying
K'gari is the world's largest sand island and known for its world-famous lakes, but research from the University of Adelaide has discovered its largest lakes could be vulnerable to drying.
Phys.org / Chlorine and potassium found in supernova remnant at unexpectedly high levels
"Why are we here?" is humanity's most fundamental and persistent question. Tracing the origins of the elements is a direct attempt to answer this at its deepest level. We know many elements are created inside stars and supernovae, ...