Phys.org news

Phys.org / Switching spin states in manganese ions with light opens new path for molecular memory

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have developed a new way to use molecules as tiny data storage devices with a new manganese-based material. Until now, this was possible only with iron-containing molecular ...

4 hours ago
Phys.org / Uncovering the trigger behind slow earthquakes

New research led by the University of New England's Dr. Timothy Chapman has uncovered the trigger behind slow earthquakes, providing valuable answers for those living in disaster-prone areas. The research has been published ...

4 hours ago
Phys.org / Giant exoplanet may hold a magnetic grip on its host star

Within their planetary systems, stars are continuously shaping their orbiting planets through gravity, radiation and magnetic forces. So far, this relationship has appeared to be a one-way street.

9 hours ago
Phys.org / Why people worldwide see some mental abilities as inborn and others as learned

When does a child begin to reason? When do they develop self-control? Are some mental abilities present from birth, while others are acquired through experience? Questions like these have fascinated philosophers, educators ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Decline in plankton across Northeast Atlantic sends stark warning for ocean health

Microscopic plankton are among the most important organisms on Earth. Phytoplankton produce around half of the oxygen we breathe, while plankton as a whole underpin marine food webs, support fisheries, help regulate carbon ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Ultra-faint galaxy discovered near Andromeda may be 12.5 billion years old

A new ultra-faint dwarf galaxy has been discovered in the vicinity of Andromeda (M31), the Milky Way's large neighboring galaxy. The new study, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics suggests that the galaxy, named And XXXVI, ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Childbirth is not uniquely difficult to humans

The tight fit of a baby's head through a mother's birth canal, which causes great difficulty in childbirth, is not unique to humans, as previously understood. Instead, some small-bodied primate babies have heads almost twice ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Mummified dogs reveal Tiwanaku people buried companions beside homes long before they became status symbols

In the arid landscapes of southern Peru, around 1,100 years ago, someone carefully dug a small pit, laid down a woven mat and placed a young dog within as if sleeping, possibly wrapped in twine. Centuries later, the mummified ...

11 hours ago
Phys.org / Tiny DNA 'hitchhikers' may be reshaping life in thawing Arctic soils

Amid the peatlands of northern Sweden, billions of microbes are quietly rewriting their genetic playbooks—and doing so far more often than scientists realized.

5 hours ago
Phys.org / UV light patterns thermochromic crystals without damage, unlocking color-changing designs

Color-changing mood rings, forehead fever strips and car-shade indicators all change hues as they warm and cool, thanks to a phenomenon called thermochromism. On a smaller scale, thermochromism is used in nanotechnologies ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Red-tailed hawks maintain flight performance despite missing feathers

Red-tailed hawks can compensate for feather loss during molt by subtly changing their wing and tail movements, according to a new study by University of California, Davis, researchers in the College of Engineering and the ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Nanopore technology identifies proteins molecule by molecule

Proteins are responsible for most functions in the human body. However, their analysis, which is essential for understanding diseases, developing drugs and discovering new biomarkers, remains highly complex. Using a technology ...

7 hours ago