Phys.org news
Phys.org / Sacrifice before the cataclysm: The aromas of Pompeii's household altars
The destruction of Pompeii preserved ash residues on the household altars of its inhabitants. An international research team has scientifically investigated for the first time what was burned in Roman incense burners from ...
Phys.org / Tasmanian tiger lives on in Arnhem Land rock art
The striped dog-like marsupial we know as the Tasmanian tiger has long been surrounded by mystery, and the subject of scientific curiosity. Now, newly discovered rock art depicting Tasmanian tigers and Tasmanian devils in ...
Phys.org / Why a potential anti-cancer agent stalled in trials: New enzyme insights may boost yield and purity
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have, for the first time, deciphered key steps in the biosynthetic mechanism of the potential anti-cancer agent fostriecin. The team led by Prof. Dr. Frank Hahn has succeeded in producing ...
Phys.org / Quantum researchers engineer extremely precise phonon lasers
When lasers were invented in the 1960s, they opened new avenues for scientific discovery and everyday applications, from scanners at the grocery store to corrective eye surgery. Conventional lasers control photons—individual ...
Phys.org / Study uncovers internal cell 'trade winds' that drive movement and repair
Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have uncovered a previously unknown system of internal "trade winds" that help cells rapidly move essential proteins to the front of the cell, reshaping how researchers understand ...
Phys.org / Copper-loaded starch nanoparticles can target bacteria in microbial communities
Bacteria are a major cause of infections and death in hospital settings, due—in part—to the rising incidence of antibiotic resistance. In the United States, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are involved in more than 2 million ...
Phys.org / Cells under stress: How a chemotherapy drug damages RNA
The integrity of DNA and RNA is essential for every cell. DNA contains the genetic information for proteins, while RNA serves as a working copy of individual genes and is required for the synthesis of proteins. Unlike DNA ...
Phys.org / Measuring titanium in Apollo rock to uncover moon's early chemistry
Earth and the moon may look very different today, but they formed under similar conditions in space. In fact, a dominant hypothesis says that the early Earth was hit by a Mars-sized object, and it was this giant impact that ...
Phys.org / Limits of protein evolution could reshape ideas about early life
The number of known proteins is infinitely small in comparison to the universe of possible proteins, which could in theory be realized. Yet these known proteins are the only major training ground for future protein design. ...
Phys.org / Wildlife-friendly landscapes dramatically boost biodiversity in fragmented forests, research reveals
A new study has revealed that improving the landscapes surrounding forest remnants can dramatically increase their ability to retain bird species—even when the forest fragments themselves are small or isolated. For decades, ...
Phys.org / Two organs, one brain area: How fish orient themselves in the water
Using zebrafish, researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) have identified the tegmentum region in the fish midbrain as the area where light input from both the fish's eyes and the pineal organ—the "third eye"—is ...
Phys.org / Soil bacteria break down toxic chemicals in the environment
Many aromatic compounds, such as phenols, cresols and styrenes, are toxic to organisms and harmful to the environment. They can accumulate as a result of industrial processes and harm ecosystems. Soil bacteria can help to ...
