Phys.org news
Phys.org / Ancient American pronghorns were built for speed
The fastest land animal in North America is the American pronghorn, and previously, researchers thought it evolved its speed because of pressure from the now-extinct American cheetah. But recently, that theory has come under ...
Phys.org / Weight-loss drugs are creating an environmental disaster—a new water-based method aims to change that
The world is in the middle of a peptide drug revolution. These short chains of amino acids—the building blocks of proteins—sit at the heart of some of the most successful medicines ever created, from weight-loss injections ...
Phys.org / New mineral sunscreen reduces white cast by using tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide
UCLA researchers have developed a mineral sunscreen formulation that significantly reduces the white, chalky cast that keeps many people from wearing sun protection daily. For decades, dermatologists have urged people to ...
Phys.org / The unraveling of the shrew, in winter: Studies decode genetic basis of seasonal organ shrinkage in mammals
Some mammals hibernate to survive in winter, but the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus) employs Dehnel's phenomenon to get through it. This is a metabolic process that enables shrews to conserve energy by shrinking their ...
Phys.org / We ate space mushrooms and survived to tell the tale
The mushrooms spread out on the chopping board seemed normal enough. They were rich and dense, and had a strong earthy aroma. In the saucepan, they melted—along with the cheese—to form a creamy pasta sauce.
Phys.org / CT scans unwrap secrets of ancient Egyptian life
Keck Medicine of USC radiologists use computed tomography (CT) scanners to diagnose and treat patients' diseases and injuries. Recently, however, this advanced technology was put to a far more novel use: examining the bodies ...
Phys.org / Tiny radio transmitters reveal a hidden survival tactic in birds
In Sturt National Park, near Tibooburra in central Australia where temperatures can range from freezing to nearly 50°C, there lives a small bird with a white back, forked tail and—as we've just discovered—a very clever ...
Phys.org / Accurately predicting Arctic sea ice in real time
Arctic sea ice has large effects on the global climate. By cooling the planet, Arctic ice impacts ocean circulation, atmospheric patterns, and extreme weather conditions, even outside the Arctic region. However, climate change ...
Phys.org / A hearing test for the world's rarest sea turtle: Understanding its vulnerability to human-caused noise
Kemp's ridley sea turtles are among the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world. They reside along the east and Gulf coasts of North America, alongside some of the world's most active shipping lanes. While the ...
Phys.org / Superconductivity exposes altermagnetism by breaking symmetries, study suggests
How are superconductivity and magnetism connected? A puzzling relation between magnetism and superconductivity in a quantum material has lingered for decades—now, a study from TU Wien offers a surprising new explanation.
Phys.org / Probiotics for plants: Microorganisms boost growth and nitrogen uptake
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have identified a bacterial genus that promotes root growth and nitrogen uptake in plants. The findings open new possibilities for developing customized "plant probiotics" ...
Phys.org / Shrinking shellfish? Study uncovers acidic water risks in Indian River lagoon
Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL), one of the state's most ecologically productive estuaries, is facing a growing but invisible threat that could reshape its marine ecosystems. Over the past decade, the lagoon has suffered ...
