Phys.org news

Phys.org / Stretching and squeezing drive the timing of glacial meltwater release

As meltwater drains through and beneath a glacier, it can alter how the ice flows and whether it breaks apart. Meltwater can also cause feedback that leads to more ice loss. Understanding when and how glacial meltwater drains ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Unsealing cells' 'black box' strategy to regulate gene activation

While scientists have known for more than two decades that all cells use a strategy called RNA interference to regulate gene expression, a new study is the first to describe how a specific protein manages the step-by-step ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Researchers capture inception of hydrogen-uranium reaction for the first time

When hydrogen gas interacts with uranium metal, the combination creates a chemically reactive powder and a runaway reaction that is difficult to stop. The result can impact the safety and lifespan of technology critical for ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Triply-eclipsing triple star system discovered with TESS

Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), astronomers have discovered a triply-eclipsing star system. The newfound system, designated TIC 295741342, consists of two sun-like stars in an eclipsing binary and ...

13 hours ago
Phys.org / Data-driven model captures dynamics of turbulence at scale

Whether the dust borne on the violent winds of a tornado or the sugar grains in a swirled cup of coffee, the behavior of particles carried along in turbulence is subject to some similarities—all of them difficult to predict ...

3 hours ago
Phys.org / Five-tea comparison reveals kombucha's biological properties depend on starting point

Over the past few years, kombucha has become one of the world's most popular fermented beverages. While most consumers focus primarily on its taste, scientists are increasingly analyzing its chemical composition and potential ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Just 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang, galaxies were already shaped by where they lived

A large protocluster of galaxies that existed 12.6 billion years ago, first discovered with the Subaru Telescope, has been examined in detail using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The study found that galaxies in crowded ...

11 hours ago
Phys.org / Trophic rewilding by large herbivores supports insect diversity, scientists find

Insects are declining across Europe. Czech scientists have determined this decline can be mitigated by returning large ungulates—horses, aurochs cattle, and wisents—to landscapes. This has been shown by a recent study by ...

8 hours ago
Phys.org / Divers may think they protect reefs, but one unseen habit is taking a steady toll

Research at the University of Sydney has found that scuba-diving tourism—widely promoted as a sustainable way to experience coral reefs—is causing frequent and often hidden damage to fragile marine ecosystems.

13 hours ago
Phys.org / Metal-free method unlocks selective carborane editing for cancer therapy and sensors

Carboranes are molecules composed of carbon, boron and hydrogen atoms that are proving to have applications of great interest in chemistry, materials science and biomedicine. They are being used, for example, in the fight ...

8 hours ago
Phys.org / Low pH outside cells rewires transport network and displaces Golgi apparatus, study finds

A new study led by the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) describes the mechano-chemical mechanism by which the acidity of the cellular environment destabilizes microtubules, the "avenues" that organize internal cellular ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / How did we learn which plants are safe to eat? Food scientists explain

Have you ever eaten a green potato, or a bunch of rhubarb leaves? Hopefully not, because these two plant parts can be toxic to humans. While they may seem edible, they contain chemicals that can make you seriously ill.

12 hours ago