Phys.org news
Phys.org / In polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw
Microbes across Earth's coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review from ...
Phys.org / Nanoplastics in water help bacteria form stronger, disinfectant-resistant biofilms
Human health risks from direct consumption of toxic nanoplastics are already scary, but researchers have confirmed that nanoplastics in water give rise to an additional threat: They strengthen bacteria.
Phys.org / The shape of things to come: How spheroid geometry guides multicellular orbiting and invasion
As organisms develop from embryos, groups of cells migrate and reshape themselves to form all manner of complex tissues. There are no anatomical molds shaped like lungs, livers or other tissues for cells to grow into. Rather, ...
Phys.org / New data show reduced overall PFAS exposures in subarctic ocean
Beginning in the early 2000s, some of the most common and well-studied PFAS were phased out through a combination of industry shifts and international regulations. A new study from Harvard has found that since that phaseout, ...
Phys.org / Arctic seas are getting louder as ice melts, posing risks: Study shows how to better measure noise
The Arctic is experiencing a steady rise in human-generated underwater noise as melting ice and increasing activity open the region to greater vessel traffic, with major implications for wildlife and local communities. New ...
Phys.org / Environmental conditions can influence evolution of gut microbiomes in African herbivores
A study of wild African herbivores offers new insight into how environmental conditions—not just diet and anatomy—can influence the evolution of gut microbes that play a critical role in animal health and well-being.
Phys.org / Molecular arrangement strategy targets multiple Alzheimer's disease factors at once
Conventional treatments of Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common forms of dementia, have been largely focused on targeting individual pathological features. However, Alzheimer's disease is a multifactorial disorder ...
Phys.org / Lit bots beware: AI creative writing faces reader skepticism, study shows
When it comes to creative writing, score one for the humans over the machines. For now, anyway. New research finds that people evaluate creative writing less favorably when they learn it was generated in whole or part by ...
Phys.org / Scientists reveal gold precipitation mechanism at pyrite-water interface
Gold is generally associated with pyrite (iron disulfide, FeS2), and pyrite-induced gold precipitation is critical to the formation of high-grade gold deposits. However, the role of pyrite in precipitating gold from fluids ...
Phys.org / Early warning for wine spoilage glows in the dark
Researchers built a living biosensor made of bacteria that lights up when it detects acetic acid, the main chemical signal that wine is starting to spoil. It works in real time, even in high-alcohol conditions, so wineries ...
Phys.org / New DNA 'page numbers' method enables accurate assembly of long genetic sequences
The power of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computing has made it possible to design genetic sequences encoding for diverse biological applications, such as proteins that form the building blocks of materials stronger ...
Phys.org / Q&A: Even small amounts of online math practice can improve skills
An analysis of data from 200,000 students using a computer-assisted math program supports an optimistic view of skill-focused, mastery-based learning, even with limited use.