Phys.org news
Phys.org / A key out-of-Africa site just got older: Dating methods push 'Ubeidiya site back at least 1.9 million years
A new study provides a clearer timeline for one of the most significant prehistoric sites worldwide for the study of human evolution. By integrating three advanced dating techniques, researchers have determined that the site ...
Phys.org / Flickering glacial climate may have shaped early human evolution
Researchers have identified a "tipping point" about 2.7 million years ago when global climate conditions switched from being relatively warm and stable to cold and chaotic, as continental ice sheets expanded in the Northern ...
Phys.org / Transistor-like MXene membranes enhance ion separation
By applying voltage to electrically control a new "transistor" membrane, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) achieved real-time tuning of ion separations—a capability previously thought impossible. ...
Phys.org / Storms reveal rare 2,000-year-old footprints on Scottish beach
Storms that recently ravaged Britain's coastline have revealed 2,000-year-old footprints on an Angus beach—one of only a handful of locations in the U.K. where markings of this kind have ever been discovered. The imprints ...
Phys.org / Webb maps the mysterious upper atmosphere of Uranus
For the first time, an international team of astronomers have mapped the vertical structure of Uranus's upper atmosphere, uncovering how temperature and charged particles vary with height across the planet. Using Webb's NIRSpec ...
Phys.org / Social pressure forces baby clownfish to lose their bars faster, study shows
Growing up, you probably changed your style based on your social influences. It turns out, such pressures affect the appearance of young clownfish (anemonefish) too. A new study from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology ...
Phys.org / Expands the genetic alphabet: Artificial DNA base pair uses halogen bonds to form stable structures
For the first time, researchers have succeeded in developing an artificial DNA base pair that is based on a different chemical force than natural genetic material. While the common natural DNA building blocks are held together ...
Phys.org / Uncovering evolution at the center of cell division
Centromeres play virtually the same central role across the entire tree of life: They ensure the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Yet the striking diversity in centromere architecture—from large, ...
Phys.org / Stronger scents and healthier crops: Unlocking plants' hidden potential through precision gene editing
Scientists have long sought to understand why some plants are fragrant powerhouses while others remain subtle. Now, a research team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has cracked a genetic "bottleneck," using precision ...
Phys.org / Mother-daughter bonds in red deer tied to survival and more surviving calves
Strong social networking plays an important role in human relationships. New research on female red deer shows that those bonds are also crucial for their reproductive success and survival. The study, which looked at more ...
Phys.org / Female meiosis in plants can be directly observed with new method
A research team at the IPK Leibniz Institute has developed a method that enables the detailed observation of female meiosis—the process by which germ cells are formed—in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The FeM-ID ...
Phys.org / A new method to decode how DNA 'switches' control gene activity
DNA is the blueprint of life. Genes encode proteins and serve as the body's basic components. However, building a functioning organism also requires precise instructions about when, where, and how much those components should ...
