Phys.org news
Phys.org / Blood marker from dementia research could help track aging across the animal world
A protein called neurofilament light chain (NfL)—studied in humans in the context of neurodegenerative diseases and aging—is also detectable in the blood of numerous animals, and NfL levels increase with age in mice, ...
Phys.org / How massive lava fields formed in the Pacific Northwest
Volcanic eruptions are significant geologic hazards. Underwater volcanoes are challenging to study, yet they play an integral role in marine geology and may cause destructive tsunamis that can threaten coastal communities.
Phys.org / How early farming unintentionally bred highly competitive 'warrior' wheat
An evolutionary "arms race" for light and space led to the early domestication of wheat, according to new research that could offer fresh insights into crop design. The study led by Dr. Yixiang Shan and Professor Colin Osborne, ...
Phys.org / Quantum trembling: Why there are no truly flat molecules
Traditional chemistry textbooks present a tidy picture: Atoms in molecules occupy fixed positions, connected by rigid rods. A molecule such as formic acid (methanoic acid, HCOOH) is imagined as two-dimensional—flat as a ...
Phys.org / Americium, curium and californium—crystallizing the rarest elements
Actinides are a group of heavy, radioactive elements that include uranium, plutonium, americium, curium, berkelium and californium. Understanding how these elements bond with other atoms (known as coordination chemistry), ...
Phys.org / Cleaner fish show intelligence typical of mammals
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan have discovered a previously undiscovered behavior in cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). When presented with a mirror, the tiny fish not only recognized themselves, ...
Phys.org / Phonon lasers unlock ultrabroadband acoustic frequency combs
Acoustic frequency combs organize sound or mechanical vibrations into a series of evenly spaced frequencies, much like the teeth on a comb. They are the acoustic counterparts of optical frequency combs, which consist of equally ...
Phys.org / Study identifies oaks, dry duff and debris as top power line failure risks
Wildfires and power outages caused by vegetation near powerlines have contributed to some of the state's most destructive fires.
Phys.org / Scientists reveal best- and worst-case scenarios for a warming Antarctica
The climate crisis is warming Antarctica fast, with potentially disastrous consequences. Now scientists have modeled the best- and worst-case scenarios for climate change in Antarctica, demonstrating just how high the stakes ...
Phys.org / A hidden step before meiosis could reshape efforts to treat infertility
In human cells, DNA carries chemical or "epigenetic" marks that decide how genes will be used in different tissues. Yet in a group of specialized cells, known as "germ cells," which will later form sperm and eggs, these inherited ...
Phys.org / A few weeks of X's algorithm can make you more right-wing—and it doesn't wear off quickly
A new study published in Nature has found that X's algorithm—the hidden system or "recipe" that governs which posts appear in your feed and in which order—shifts users' political opinions in a more conservative direction.
Phys.org / Hiding in plain sight: Discovery of cryptic species could double the number of vertebrates
There may be twice as many vertebrates on the planet as previous estimates claimed, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. That's not because of any errors ...
