Phys.org news
Phys.org / Thinner wires, faster electrons: Quantum material challenges copper at chip scale
Electrical interconnects may very well be the unsung heroes of modern microchips. These tiny wires—typically made of copper due to its high conductivity—string together the billions of transistors that drive our computers ...
Phys.org / Sun holds 55% more silver than estimated, new model reveals
Researchers at Uppsala University have calculated that the sun contains 55% more silver than previously estimated. The results are based on more realistic modeling of the sun's atmosphere and resolve a long-standing problem ...
Phys.org / Prototype bicycle tire uses silk to outperform nylon in strength and endurance
Researchers in Thailand have developed a prototype high-performance bicycle tire that replaces conventional nylon fabric reinforcement with natural silk. The team combined laboratory-scale material testing with pilot-scale ...
Phys.org / AI-designed proteins help scientists see inside living cells
Cells are like metropolises, home to millions of molecular residents. If one were to stand atop a high-rise, trying to identify most of its inhabitants would seem an impossible task. Even with the sophisticated imaging tools ...
Phys.org / Canadian wildfire smoke linked to fewer bird sightings in New York State
Despite burning hundreds of miles away, Canadian wildfires have become a familiar source of disruption in New York state.
Phys.org / Australia's most diverse marsupial predators have been hiding their origins for millions of years
When you think of carnivorous marsupials, you probably picture the Tasmanian devil or perhaps a spotted-tailed quoll. But these famous predators are only the largest members of a remarkable family of marsupials called dasyurids.
Phys.org / Researchers identify 'dimmer switch' for plants' immune system
As sulfur becomes increasingly scarce in soils worldwide, scientists are studying how plants decide whether to invest limited resources in growth or defense.
Phys.org / Portable system cuts PFAS testing time to hours
For communities worried about PFAS contamination, waiting for test results can mean days of uncertainty. A University of Tasmania trial has used a mobile laboratory equipped with portable liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry ...
Phys.org / To learn how tough a material is, engineers find its breaking point
A recent study examined a transparent material used in high-impact applications such as helicopter windshields at the molecular level to measure its toughness. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and ...
Phys.org / How an influx of salt may affect microbial ecosystems in rivers, estuaries and coastal waters worldwide
As sea levels rise due to climate change, encroaching seawater will likely make freshwater environments saltier. In a new study, MIT researchers have shown how that increase in salinity might affect microbial ecosystems found ...
Phys.org / How human activities compromise coral health and resilience
Human activities are fundamentally altering the chemical makeup of coral reefs, according to a study led by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and published in Nature Communications. The research team discovered that 25 contaminants ...
Phys.org / Bones reveal ancient Egyptian princesses born 4,000 years ago used weapons
For decades, scientists have disputed the meaning of the weapons found in the burial chambers of some ancient Egyptian princesses. Were they symbolic or practical tools? Now, a reassessment of five royal women's mummies from ...
