Phys.org news
Phys.org / Deep beneath Utah, rare mantle earthquakes reshape seismic hazard questions
Nearly 50 years ago, a puzzling earthquake beneath northern Utah jolted scientists' understanding of how Earth works. Now, research from the University of Utah confirms that the mysterious event was real, and part of a rare ...
Phys.org / Cells trap heat in ways standard fluid physics cannot explain, study finds
Living cells cool much slower than our current understanding of heat conduction can explain, according to new research from the University of Tokyo. Researchers have used two techniques—high-speed temperature mapping and ...
Phys.org / How do you know a bowhead whale is feeding? It's all in the way it moves, shows study
For years, scientists studying bowhead whales have relied on a simple idea: if a whale makes a long, square or U-shaped dive, it's feeding time. A new study demonstrates that assumption may not hold water.
Phys.org / MIZ-ing in action: How much of Antarctic sea ice is affected by waves?
Using old satellite radar techniques, scientists have developed a new way of measuring the true extent of an understudied and crucial region of the Antarctic sea-ice system for the first time. The Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) ...
Phys.org / Global food shock model reveals self-sufficiency alone may not prevent crises
Global food systems are fragile. Recent shocks such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have raised prices and exacerbated food insecurity. Governments are increasingly trying to shield ...
Phys.org / Astronomers discover how to estimate masses of newborn planets using dust rings
A team of astronomers, led by University of Warwick in collaboration with researchers at MIT and McMaster, have developed a novel method to use the properties of dust rings around stars to estimate the masses of newborn planets. ...
Phys.org / Plants select growth strategies by 'spying' on their neighbors' scents
New research reveals that plants have the ability to detect their neighbors' growth rates through aromatic cues called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and subsequently adjust how much energy they invest into their own growth ...
Phys.org / Electrical 'knob' can switch light on, off and tune intensity at the nanoscale
Physicists from Emory University have led work to develop a microscopic, nonlinear light source that can be switched on, off or tuned to a particular intensity by an electrical "knob." The paper is published in the journal ...
Phys.org / 'Diversifying' social feeds can cut exposure to toxic content and preserve enjoyment
A new study from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago offers underlying evidence that the engagement-based algorithms used by major social media platforms amplify intergroup, moralized, emotional (IME) and ...
Phys.org / Biologists improve biomass mapping tools to better track carbon storage
In the far north regions of Earth, where forests stretch across Alaska and Canada, climate change is unfolding at an accelerated pace. Arctic and boreal regions are warming two to four times faster than the global average, ...
Phys.org / A new approach to urban planning with less car traffic and lower carbon emissions
Urban planning needs to tackle greenhouse gas emissions—and an important way to achieve this is by reducing the number and length of car commutes. This can be achieved primarily by ensuring that homes are located close to ...
Phys.org / Improved embryo freezing technique could preserve endangered species
The current practice of freezing embryos—used to assist reproduction in humans or animals or to conserve endangered species—routinely causes ice to form within the cells, ripping through cell membranes, changing the way proteins ...