Phys.org news
Phys.org / Natural textile fibers may persist for more than a century in lake sediments
Natural fibers promoted as sustainable alternatives to plastic, including cotton and wool, have been found preserved in a U.K. lake for more than a century—challenging assumptions that they quickly biodegrade in the environment. ...
Phys.org / Students discover new crab egg predator
After a year and a half of remote work and learning, UC Santa Barbara undergraduate students Sophia Lecuona Manos, Gabrielle Plewe, Carson Gadler and doctoral student Zoe Zilz returned to campus in late 2021 eager for some ...
Phys.org / When it comes to networks, nature has an edge
Networks exist in both nature—such as biological systems like food webs and gene regulatory networks—and in engineered systems as seen in power grids. Though natural and engineered systems share an overarching goal—providing ...
Phys.org / Engineered lipid nanoparticles reprogram immune metabolism for better mRNA vaccines
The most common side effects of mRNA vaccines like the COVID-19 shot are well known: soreness, mild fever, and general malaise. Those symptoms, which typically resolve within days, are the natural result of the immune system ...
Phys.org / Warmer, wetter cyclone weather made Peru's dengue outbreak 10 times larger, study finds
Diseases historically absent from the United States have been showing up in Florida, Texas, California and other U.S. states in recent years. To understand why, look to Peru. That's where researchers from Stanford and other ...
Phys.org / What's in your lipstick and water? New test flags hidden mutagens
Substances capable of mutating human genetic material—altering and permanently damaging it—are present in many everyday products. Researchers at Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) have, for the first time, detected mutagens ...
Phys.org / Changing flight paths could slash aviation's climate impact
Small changes to aircraft flight paths to avoid the atmospheric conditions that create condensation trails—known as contrails—could reduce aviation's global warming impact by nearly half, a new study suggests. The study, ...
Phys.org / Nano 3D metallic parts turn out to be surprisingly strong despite defects
Scientists at Caltech have figured out how to precisely engineer tiny three-dimensional (3D) metallic pieces with nanoscale dimensions. The process can work with any metal or metal alloy and yields components of surprising ...
Phys.org / 'Conflict entrepreneurs': Examining divisive political rhetoric and the pursuit of celebrity by politicians
American politics is increasingly characterized by high levels of polarization and divisive rhetoric, despite stated preferences among voters for civility and substantive debate. Sean J. Westwood and colleagues sought to ...
Phys.org / Moths are flying later in the year than a century ago, study finds
South of Fall Creek by the edge of the woods, the moths would gather. They were, of course, drawn by light—set out by a researcher working in Cornell University's old Insectory building. In 1889, the lure came from a kerosene ...
Phys.org / AI model improves flood forecasting with higher accuracy than current methods
New paired studies from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities show that machine learning can improve the prediction of floods. The studies, published in Water Resources Research and the Proceedings of the IEEE International ...
Phys.org / Graphene sensors stay stable in liquids, boosting sensitivity up to 20 times
Accurately measuring small shifts in biological markers, like proteins and neurotransmitters, or harmful chemicals in the water supply, can identify critical problems before they have a chance to impact patients or the environment. ...