Phys.org news
Phys.org / Yeast paired with electricity can convert CO₂ into a chemical used in biodegradable plastics
To limit further climate change, researchers are exploring technologies that can convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) into useful products. In collaboration with BOKU University in Vienna (Austria), researchers at the ...
Phys.org / The phantom lighthouse: New research explains one of Australia's strangest illusions
There are two lighthouses on Lady Elliot Island, at the southernmost tip of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The first was built in 1873, but was decommissioned in 1995 when the second took over the job of warning ships off ...
Phys.org / DNA analysis identifies root-dwelling fungi as potential keystone species in forest microbial communities
Beneath the forest floor extends a vast ecosystem where a diverse array of microorganisms inhabit soil and root systems. Here, fungi and bacteria play pivotal roles in processes such as nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. ...
Phys.org / Portable device accurately and rapidly detects PFAS in water
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals known for their exceptional resistance to degradation, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals." These persistent substances can accumulate in water, ...
Phys.org / Atomic magnetism reveals why iron, but not chromium, can produce ammonia using sunlight
Two nearly identical materials have completely different chemical behavior. Research teams at the University of Vienna and TU Wien studied catalysts that use the energy of sunlight to produce ammonia. Surprisingly, when the ...
Phys.org / Sun's outer magnetic field mapped in 3D for the first time
A team of researchers has produced the first global, three-dimensional estimates of the sun's magnetic field, including the area beyond the sun's visible edge. This marks a step toward more accurate models of solar activity—and ...
Phys.org / 2024 solar storm triggered ultrarelativistic electrons inside Earth's 'impenetrable barrier'
The Earth is surrounded by an invisible barrier that was thought to prevent highly energetic electrons from reaching closer to our planet. But in 2024, Japan's Arase space probe detected these electrons well inside the barrier. ...
Phys.org / Slow-motion electron camera reveals light-driven quantum jumps in graphene
Using a new slow-motion electron camera, physicists from Regensburg, Marburg and Jülich revealed how intense electric fields drive electrons in graphene, causing them to jump across energy gaps in a seemingly paradoxical ...
Phys.org / Engineered albumin helps a therapeutic protein last longer and cross mucosal barriers
Protein-based medicines have transformed the treatment of many diseases, but they often come with a limitation: they must be injected, sometimes repeatedly, because they are rapidly cleared from the bloodstream. For patients ...
Phys.org / Ultrathin metal layer boosts spin-related signals, opening a door to ultralow-power electronics
Researchers at Kyushu University have found that an ultrathin layer of iridium manganese (IrMn) can improve two spin-related signals in a structure made of a magnetic insulator and a platinum film. By examining how spin currents ...
Phys.org / Could next-gen artificial intelligence help map out future space outposts?
Planning a successful trip can be challenging, especially when your destination is in outer space. Even before liftoff, space missions require extraordinary amounts of scientific preparation and data analysis to succeed, ...
Phys.org / Extracellular vesicle discovery may shed light on how cancer spreads
A team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (The Institute) have discovered a new type of extracellular vesicle released by migrating cancer cells, revealing a previously unknown way in which ...
