Phys.org news
Phys.org / Know when to fold 'em: Study reveals benefits of dropping unrealistic goals
Though many people may benefit from setting life goals, new research led by Curtin University has revealed working towards unachievable targets could in fact have a negative impact on overall well-being—and knowing when ...
Phys.org / Species in crisis: Critically endangered penguins are directly competing with fishing boats
A new study led by the University of St Andrews has found that critically endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) are significantly more likely to forage in the same areas as commercial fishing vessels during years ...
Phys.org / Green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles from desert plants show broad antimicrobial activity
As drug-resistant infections continue to rise, researchers are looking for new antimicrobial strategies that are both effective and sustainable. One emerging approach combines nanotechnology with "green" chemistry, using ...
Phys.org / Fake survey answers from AI could quietly sway election predictions
Public opinion polls and other surveys rely on data to understand human behavior. New research from Dartmouth reveals that artificial intelligence can now corrupt public opinion surveys at scale—passing every quality check, ...
Phys.org / Lead-free alternative discovered for essential electronics component
Ferroelectric materials are used in infrared cameras, medical ultrasounds, computer memory and actuators that turn electric properties into mechanical properties and vice-versa. Most of these essential materials, however, ...
Phys.org / Ultracold potassium-cesium molecules assembled in absolute ground state
Researchers from Hanns-Christoph Nägerl's group have produced the world's first ultracold KCs molecules in their absolute ground state. Starting by mixing clouds of potassium and cesium atoms cooled almost to absolute zero ...
Phys.org / Severe floods cut global rice yields, threatening food security for billions
Severe flooding has slashed global rice yields in recent decades, threatening food security for billions of people who depend on the grain. The losses amounted to approximately 4.3%, or 18 million tons of rice per year, between ...
Phys.org / Interpretable AI reveals key atomic traits for efficient hydrogen storage in metal hydrides
Hydrogen fuels represent a clean energy option, but a major hurdle in making its use more mainstream is efficient storage. Hydrogen storage requires either extremely high-pressure tanks or extremely cold temperatures, which ...
Phys.org / Early Triassic sediments reveal Earth's hidden wildfire past
An international team of scientists, including a senior researcher at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, has uncovered new evidence of ancient wildfires that reshapes our understanding of Earth's turbulent Early ...
Phys.org / Lethal dose of plastics for ocean wildlife: Surprisingly small amounts can kill seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals
By studying more than 10,000 necropsies, researchers now know how much plastic it takes to kill seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals, and the lethal dose is much smaller than you might think. Their new study titled "A ...
Phys.org / Medieval communities boosted biodiversity around Lake Constance for centuries, study reveals
One of the major realizations of the Anthropocene era has been the importance of biodiversity for the functioning of the Earth system, as well as for human societies.
Phys.org / Light intensity steers molecular assemblies into 1D, 2D or 3D structures
Constructing out-of-equilibrium molecular assemblies that deviate from thermodynamic equilibrium is a central challenge in materials science. While numerous studies have reported the creation of such states using external ...
