Phys.org news
Phys.org / Trace fossils reveal clues to evolution of tiny organisms in deep marine ecosystems
Dr. Luis Buatois (Ph.D.) traces a series of hexagons with his finger, following the path carved by tiny organisms millions of years ago that have long since left these unique fossils in their wake.
Phys.org / Rivers in the sky: New study reveals what brings rainfall to ice shelves in West Antarctica
Extreme precipitation events in Antarctica, which are mostly dominated by snowfall due to sub-zero temperatures, also include rainfall, according to new research.
Phys.org / Deep-sea shrimp have evolved enhanced vision for the bioluminescent world, study finds
Light is a primary driver of visual evolution in shrimp, according to new FIU research published this week in Nature Communications.
Phys.org / Moa extinction: Human colonization sealed fate of New Zealand's giants, study shows
New research has identified the extent to which human colonization and hunting contributed to the extinction of New Zealand's giant flightless bird, the moa.
Phys.org / Synthetic compartments 'turbocharge' bacteria for faster protein production
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated a new synthetic approach that turbocharges bacteria into producing more of a specific protein, even proteins that would normally destroy them, such as antibiotics.
Phys.org / In a first, physicists set an upper limit in the search for hybrid mesons
Carnegie Mellon University's Professor Curtis Meyer and his research colleagues explore an uncharted world inside protons and neutrons. For the first time, researchers have provided measurements describing a maximum boundary ...
Phys.org / Earth's acid test: When did ocean acidity allow life to commence?
Scientists at Yale and in Singapore have devised what may be the ultimate acid test—a comprehensive model for estimating the origins of Earth's habitability, based in part on ocean acidity.
Phys.org / Research finds we're eating younger, smaller cod—and that matters
That bag of cod filets you pick up at the grocer comes from fish much likely much smaller and younger than its ancestors that were eaten by people in the distant past, according to a new study that includes a University of ...
Phys.org / Miniaturization of thin films uncovers 'Goldilocks zone' in relaxor ferroelectrics
A new study led by Rice University materials scientist Lane Martin sheds light on how the extreme miniaturization of thin films affects the behavior of relaxor ferroelectrics—materials with noteworthy energy-conversion ...
Phys.org / Ancient tree rings uncover climate's impact on Chinese dynastic history
A study tracking rainfall patterns over thousands of years has found that more arid periods coincided with ages of dynastic turmoil in China—highlighting a historical link between climate stress and social unrest.
Phys.org / Eco-friendly method can separate and recycle refrigerants tied to climate crisis
A study published in the journal Science Advances from researchers at the University of Kansas shows a new eco-friendly method for separating the chemicals found in common refrigerants for easier recycling at an industrial ...
Phys.org / Starfish skeletons provide key insights into bone evolution
Researchers at the Biomimetics-Innovation-Center, Hochschule Bremen—City University of Applied Sciences, have made pioneering discoveries about how mechanical stress shapes the ultrastructure of starfish skeletons. Published ...