Phys.org news

Phys.org / New statistical tools sharpen the search for causal DNA changes in livestock

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new suite of statistical methods that dramatically improves the ability to pinpoint DNA changes responsible for important traits in livestock. The work addresses ...

15 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Increasing plant diversity in agricultural grasslands boosts yields, reducing reliance on fertilizer

Higher plant diversity in agricultural grasslands increases yields with lower inputs of nitrogen fertilizer. That is the headline finding of a landmark, international study led by Trinity College Dublin that paints a promising ...

15 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Catalyst insight may unlock safer, on-demand ozone water disinfection

University of Pittsburgh researchers have made an important step toward providing hospitals and water treatment facilities with a safer, greener alternative to chlorine-based disinfection.

15 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / AI chatbots can effectively sway voters—in either direction

A short interaction with a chatbot can meaningfully shift a voter's opinion about a presidential candidate or proposed policy in either direction, new Cornell University research finds.

15 hours ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / 'Free-range' dinosaur parenting may have created surprisingly diverse ancient ecosystems

Picture a baby Brachiosaurus the size of a golden retriever, hunting for food with its siblings while dodging predators that would happily eat it. Meanwhile, its parents—towering over 40 feet tall—are dozens of miles ...

17 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / New study challenges the idea of humans as innately nature-loving

Nature is a source of well-being and recovery for many people. However, research shows that there is also a growing number of individuals who experience negative emotions, such as fear, discomfort, or even disgust, toward ...

18 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Research reveals atypical Santas can succeed

A naturally fluffy white beard, a round belly and a jolly laugh might seem like the keys to being a successful Santa Claus, but new research suggests that a calling to play the man with the bag full of toys is enough to help ...

16 hours ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Hydrogel platform enables high-throughput extracellular vesicle isolation

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have rapidly emerged as one of the most promising frontiers in modern biology. These nano-sized messengers mediate communication between cells, tissues, and organs, influencing processes from ...

16 hours ago in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / How volcanic eruptions set off a chain of events that brought the Black Death to Europe

Clues contained in tree rings have identified mid-14th-century volcanic activity as the first domino to fall in a sequence that led to the devastation of the Black Death in Europe.

18 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / A direct leap into terahertz: Dirac materials enable efficient signal conversion at room temperature

Highspeed Internet, autonomous driving, the Internet of Things: data streams are proliferating at enormous speed. But classic radio technology is reaching its limits: the higher the data rate, the faster the signals need ...

18 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / The microbiome of an entire country mapped for the first time

An international research team led by Aalborg University with contributions from the University of Vienna has systematically mapped the microbiome of an entire country for the first time. In the study "Microflora Danica," ...

19 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Alternative to BPA passes toxicity and sustainability standards set by EU innovation guidelines

Polyester and a host of other plastic products could potentially be manufactured with non-toxic and sustainable BPA alternatives identified in a multidisciplinary study published in Nature Sustainability by researchers in ...

17 hours ago in Chemistry