Phys.org news
Phys.org / High-speed onion mist: Cutting technique and blade sharpness affect droplet spray, study shows
A new discovery about how cutting onions ejects pungent aerosols up to two-thirds of a meter into the air has led to practical advice for reducing the spray: Cut onions slowly with a sharpened blade or coat an onion in oil ...
Phys.org / Ancient teeth provide new insight into the lives of the world's first farming villagers
Archaeologists have revealed new insights into how the world's first farming villagers formed communities, moved across the land and responded to outsiders.
Phys.org / Archaeologists uncover ritual platforms that helped pave the way for Chinese unification
Archaeologists have excavated three c. 3,000–2,400-year-old ritual structures in Shandong Province, China, indicating that the origins of a shared Chinese cultural identity lie in ceremonial gatherings that sowed the seeds ...
Phys.org / Observing quantum weirdness in our world: Nobel physics explained
The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to three scientists on Tuesday for discovering that a bizarre barrier-defying phenomenon in the quantum realm could be observed on an electrical circuit in our classical world.
Phys.org / Scientists unlock new patterns of protein behavior in cell membranes
Cellular membrane proteins play many important roles throughout the body, including transporting substances in and out of the cell, transmitting signals, speeding up reactions and helping neighboring cells stick together. ...
Phys.org / Physicists develop new quantum sensor at the atomic lattice scale
From computer chips to quantum dots—technological platforms were only made possible thanks to a detailed understanding of the used solid-state materials, such as silicon or more complex semiconductor materials. This understanding ...
Phys.org / Scientists discover hidden gecko species in Atacama desert
Beneath the relentless sun of Chile's Atacama Desert, tiny geckos hide a remarkable secret. New genomic research, led by the University of Wollongong's (UOW) Kamryn Carter, has discovered that these resilient reptiles, known ...
Phys.org / Splitting water: How order and disorder direct chemical reactivity
In nature, the behavior of systems—whether large or small—is always governed by a few fundamental principles. For instance, objects fall downward because it minimizes their energy. At the same time, order and disorder ...
Phys.org / Bamboo-based plastic can be made to biodegrade quickly, but still holds up in tough conditions
A new method to produce strong, biodegradable plastic from bamboo is reported in Nature Communications this week. The bioplastic resembles oil-based plastics in strength, shapability, and thermal stability but can biodegrade ...
Phys.org / Questionable lead reporting for drinking water virtually vanished after Flint water crisis, study reveals
Public water systems in the U.S. were far less likely to report suspiciously rounded lead levels after the Flint, Michigan water crisis drew national outrage and federal scrutiny, according to new research led by the University ...
Phys.org / Leafcutter ants have blind spots, just like truck drivers
We have all been in that situation: The moving boxes are large and heavy, but we are determined to carry them all in one trip, even if that means we can't see where we're going. In the tropics, some leafcutter ants face a ...
Phys.org / Bacterial enzyme and nanoparticle discoveries hold promise for treating gut pain
Abdominal pain is a hallmark of many digestive disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. In an effort to develop targeted treatments for gut pain, scientists have discovered a new enzyme ...
