Phys.org news

Phys.org / Songbirds may have developed sharper senses to de-husk seeds

Songbirds, birds belonging to the Passeriformes order, are best known for their ability to produce complex musical sounds. Yet some songbird species also have another remarkable skill: They can easily remove the tough layer ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Carbon nanostructure improves fuel-cell catalyst durability while reducing platinum use

The explosion of new data centers being proposed and built around the U.S. has increased demand for energy to keep them powered and cooled. The Electric Power Research Institute estimates that data centers could consume up ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Coupled AI and physics model improves typhoon-wave height forecasting

Typhoons pose significant threats, with sudden, dangerous waves that endanger ships, offshore platforms and coastal infrastructure in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Current typhoon forecasting methods sometimes underestimate ...

8 hours ago
Phys.org / Spacecraft observations may conceal how particles really move through near-Earth space

High-energy particles in Earth's radiation belt can appear to spread out randomly, even when they are moving in a "predictable" way. This is because spacecraft observations naturally blur the fine-scale structure of the particle ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / Zoo-housed lions show wild-style behaviors when fed whole carcasses

A new Australian study has found that feeding zoo-housed lions whole-animal carcasses on a feast-and-fast schedule encourages behaviors more closely aligned with those seen in the wild.

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Rare ultra-magnetic star may be key to solving 90-year old quantum cold case

Astronomers may have just confirmed one of the quirkiest aspects of quantum mechanics: that seemingly empty space can alter the behavior of light. This phenomenon, called "vacuum birefringence," was first predicted nearly ...

8 hours ago
Phys.org / Atomic view of Alzheimer's disease peptide could inform new drugs

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of a peptide in the brain known as amyloid beta. A new study published in Nature Communications on July 22 has uncovered the atomic structure of the peptide ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Interlocking molecular propellers create stable 'islands' in artificial lipid membranes

Cells are enclosed by a cell membrane, a sophisticated structure mainly made of lipids that is vital for fundamental biological processes. Artificial lipid membranes have many practical applications, such as drug delivery, ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Light-activated nanoparticles could help surgeons find and destroy brain cancer remnants

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer. It's difficult to treat because tumor cells infiltrate the surrounding brain tissue, making it hard for surgeons to remove the cancer completely without damaging healthy ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / First complete songbird genome exposes missing genes and chromosome architecture

The zebra finch is one of the best-studied songbirds and a model for understanding the biology and neuroscience of vocal learning. Now, researchers have produced the first complete genome assembly of the species, revealing ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Your next handbag could start with mushrooms

The search for leather alternatives has led researchers somewhere unexpected: fungi. Although traditional leather is durable, producing it requires animal agriculture, which carries negative environmental impacts. Meanwhile, ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Bioengineers develop biochemical halo to cloak insulin-producing cells from body defenses

A protein known as interleukin 10 (IL-10) is the lynchpin of a new method to protect transplanted cells from host immune system attacks. Rice University researchers engineered a living factory to produce a localized biochemical ...

7 hours ago