Phys.org news

Phys.org / Watermelon super-pangenome paves the way for precision breeding

Watermelon is a quintessential summertime fruit, evoking images of warm, sunny afternoons and cookouts with friends and family. You can easily picture its striped, green rind and pink flesh, imagine the delicate crunch as ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / As sargassum floods Florida beaches, researchers uncover new use as food-grade ingredient

As record-breaking amounts of sargassum seaweed drift toward Florida's shores, researchers at Florida International University are exploring how the coastal nuisance could become a valuable ingredient in everyday foods.

11 hours ago
Phys.org / Microplastics pass through earthworms without accumulating in body tissues, study shows

As much as 40 million metric tons of microplastics are released into the environment globally every year. These tiny pieces of plastic come from larger plastic items that break down or are shed by products such as clothing, ...

9 hours ago
Dialog / 'Solar-blind' 2D heterostructure delivers 422-fold responsivity gain for UV sensing

Photodetectors remain a critical component in the development of advanced electronics and photonics, particularly in the role of signal readout through the conversion of photons into electrons. These digital imaging components ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / Timor green pigeon 'likely to go extinct' without urgent action, according to scientists

The Timor green pigeon, which is under pressure from hunting and habitat loss, is at serious risk of extinction and should be uplisted to Critically Endangered, according to a new study from researchers at Charles Darwin ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / What if the brain came first? Scientist rethinks the Cambrian Explosion

For decades, scientists have sought to explain the so-called "Cambrian Explosion," a pivotal period over 500 million years ago when a remarkable diversity of animal life appeared in the fossil record. But rather than a sudden ...

12 hours ago
Phys.org / Tiny eggs may explain why ammonites vanished while nautiloids survived asteroid aftermath

Some of the most beautiful creatures to grace the ancient seas, the ammonites, disappeared in the end-Cretaceous mass extinction that finished off the dinosaurs 65.5 million years ago. "It's a tragic story, because this incredibly ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Dog training choices may reflect owners' ethical views on animals

Whether a dog owner rewards their dog with a treat or corrects it by pulling on the leash is not simply a matter of what they believe to be the most effective training method. According to the study, owners' choice of training ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Greener process recovers over 96% of rare earths from permanent magnets

Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, have developed a solid-phase extraction process that enables the eco-friendly recovery of critical raw materials from NdFeB magnets. The developed method utilizes organic ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Chemistry-aware AI can generate millions of plausible new molecules

Finding and developing new molecules is one of the great research endeavors of modern chemistry. From the development of new drugs to the creation of more sustainable materials, everything depends on finding new combinations ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Unraveling the evolution of an extraordinary photosynthesis in a tropical tree species

Plants use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into energy-rich sugars and oxygen in various ways (photosynthesis). Drought is a major challenge in this process. A research team led by Wolfram Weckwerth at the University ...

13 hours ago
Phys.org / Why isolated human groups speak more diverse languages even as genetic diversity shrinks

Languages and human DNA both capture aspects of human diversity. But how are they related? A new international study led by the University of Zurich finds a clear but counterintuitive pattern: regions with high genetic diversity ...

11 hours ago