Phys.org news
Phys.org / Svalbard polar bears gained fat despite rapid Barents Sea ice loss
Their icy hunting grounds are rapidly shrinking, but polar bears in Norway's remote Svalbard archipelago have defied the odds by bulking up instead of wasting away, a study said Thursday.
Phys.org / Saturday Citations: T. Rex on tiptoe; subduing unruly proteins; opinionated birds
This week, astronomers reported that one of the biggest observed stars in the universe could soon explode. A study compared long-term COVID-19 brain effects to the flu. And a new eco-friendly battery could theoretically last ...
Phys.org / Metasurface-based SLM could enhance AR, VR and LiDAR performance
Many cutting-edge technologies, ranging from augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems, rely on components that enable the precise control of light. These components include ...
Phys.org / Greenland's largest glacier could soon reach a tipping point, scientists say
Greenland's largest glacier, Jakobshavn Glacier, may be edging closer to a critical threshold as meltwater runoff from the Greenland Ice Sheet accelerates in ways not seen in over a century, according to new research published ...
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 ...
