Phys.org news
Phys.org / Global climate models need the nitrogen cycle—all of it
Nitrogen is an important component of the global environment, affecting agriculture, climate, human health, and ecosystems. The role of the nitrogen cycle has become more widely appreciated, yet Earth system models (ESMs) ...
Phys.org / A faster way to find new medicines—without the limitations of big DNA barcodes
Leiden researchers, led by Sebastian Pomplun, have developed a new method to screen hundreds of thousands of molecules for drug discovery, using mass spectrometry instead of DNA tags. "We wanted to make drug discovery faster ...
Phys.org / Microbial memory in Kansas soils: How 'legacy effects' influence plant performance
A study appearing in Nature Microbiology analyzes soils sampled across the state of Kansas to determine the importance of "legacy effects"—or how soils from a specific location are influenced by microbes that have evolved ...
Phys.org / How ammolite gemstones get their vivid colors
The origins of vivid colors within the gemstone ammolite—a rare type of brightly colored fossilized ammonite shell—are reported in research published in Scientific Reports.
Phys.org / How has talking about politics changed in the last quarter-century?
When chatting with friends these days, there's a good chance Americans are talking about politics, and they're more likely to be talking with people they agree with politically instead of crossing lines of belief.
Phys.org / Drones reveal unexpectedly high emissions from wastewater treatment plants
Greenhouse gas emissions from many wastewater treatment plants may be more than twice as large as previously thought. This is shown in a new study from Linköping University, where the researchers used drones with specially ...
Phys.org / Fats provide clues to life at its limits in the deep sea
Diverse life forms exist on and within the ocean floor. These primarily consist of microbes, tiny organisms that can cope with extreme environmental conditions. These include high pressures and salinities, as well as extreme ...
Phys.org / Extra iron helps stressed out wheat grow up big and strong
Researchers led by Keiichi Mochida at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have discovered that extended periods of high stress lead to iron deficiency and stunted growth in wheat crops. Experiments ...
Phys.org / DNA study reveals origins, migrations and genetic legacy of 'forgotten' Sarmatians
In a recent study, Dr. Oszkár Schütz and his colleagues analyzed 156 ancient genomes from the Sarmatian period, spanning the 1st to 5th centuries CE. The aim of the study was to clarify the origins and genetic relationships ...
Phys.org / Baleen whales found to excrete nutrients that boost primary productivity in the ocean by up to 10%
Scientists have been aware for some time that whales contribute to marine ecosystems by "recycling" nutrients. However, the exact impact on ocean productivity was unclear and had not been studied quantitatively. A new study, ...
Phys.org / Malaria parasites are full of wildly spinning iron crystals—scientists finally know why
Every cell of the deadly Plasmodium falciparum parasite, the organism that causes malaria, contains a tiny compartment full of microscopic iron crystals. As long as the parasite is alive, the crystals dance. They spin, jolt, ...
Phys.org / In accidental discovery, scientists find flatworm can grow two heads and flip its body axis
The microscopic flatworm (Stenostomum brevipharyngium) is one of nature's weirder creatures. Chop off its head, and it'll grow one back. Cut it in half, and it'll become two separate healthy worms. And now scientists have ...
