Phys.org news
Phys.org / Rising carbon dioxide levels now detected in human blood
Rising carbon dioxide levels are being detected within the human body, with new research warning a key blood marker for the gas could near its healthy limit within decades if current trends continue. The findings are especially ...
Phys.org / A new scientific discipline to ensure humanity's deep future
Will humanity extend into the far future? It's likely many of us think it should. The problem is that each of us, individually and collectively, act otherwise—we are destroying the environment and climate at every turn. ...
Phys.org / Could Mars soil block Earth microbes? 'Water bears' offer a clue
Tardigrades, commonly known as water bears, may be better suited by a new name: Tardiguardians of the Galaxy. Unlike the fictional ragtag team of unenthusiastic heroes, the microscopic animals are providing real insight into ...
Phys.org / Size-shifting nanoparticles successfully deliver mRNA medicine to the pancreas
In recent years, mRNA in lipid nanoparticles (mRNA–LNPs) has emerged as a promising strategy for treating numerous conditions, including COVID-19, various cancers and chronic genetic disorders. To date, this technology ...
Phys.org / How a common fungus outsmarts drugs and our immune system
Our bodies are home to millions of fungi that, for the most part, are completely harmless. However, they can sometimes change from peaceful residents into dangerous invaders. One such is Candida parapsilosis, which normally ...
Phys.org / The screech of peeling sticky tape conceals a rapid train of tiny shockwaves, ultrafast imaging shows
A new experiment has uncovered the mechanism responsible for the screeching sound made by peeling sticky tape. Using a combination of ultrafast imaging and synchronized acoustic recordings, Sigurdur Thoroddsen and colleagues ...
Phys.org / Raincoat no longer waterproof? A textile scientist explains why—and how to fix it
You pull on your rain jacket, step out into the storm, and within half an hour your undershirt is soaked. The jacket you purchased as "waterproof" seems to have stopped working, and all the marketing claims feel a bit suspect. ...
Phys.org / Luminescence dating confirms Roman-era gold mines in the Eastern Pyrenees
A study by the UAB and the University of A Coruña has succeeded in demonstrating the existence of Roman-era alluvial gold mines in the Eastern Pyrenees. The discovery was made possible by dating two samples from the infill ...
Phys.org / Dynamical freezing can protect quantum information for near-cosmic timescales
Preserving quantum information is key to developing useful quantum computing systems. But interacting quantum systems are chaotic and follow laws of thermodynamics, eventually leading to information loss. Physicists have ...
Phys.org / Stress-testing the Cascadia Subduction Zone reveals variability that could impact how earthquakes spread
The Cascadia Subduction Zone is unusually quiet for a megathrust fault. Spanning more than 600 miles from Canada to California, the fault marks the convergence of the Juan de Fuca and North American plates. While other subduction ...
Phys.org / Cooling without gases: Molecular design brings solid-state cooling closer to reality
Some solid materials can cool down or heat up when pressure is applied or released. This behavior enables cooling and heating technologies that do not rely on climate-damaging refrigerant gases. In practice, however, a major ...
Phys.org / Older male humpbacks sire more calves as populations recover from whaling
New research from the University of St Andrews published in Current Biology has shown that the role of age in male humpback whale reproduction has changed as populations recover from centuries of exploitation. Whaling drove ...