Phys.org news
Phys.org / Plastics found in tomato and wheat crops stunt growth, study finds
A study investigating microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in agricultural settings has found they reduced plant growth and entered plant tissues through the soil, raising new concerns about food safety and human exposure. ...
Phys.org / The edge of the Milky Way's star-forming disk revealed
How far the Milky Way's disk extends has long been difficult to define—it doesn't end sharply, but fades away gradually at its outer edges. Now, for the first time, an international team of astronomers has identified the ...
Phys.org / Mosses and thale cress share the same leaf growth principles, despite 400 million years of separate evolution
A study published in Science Advances shows that, in moss and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, commonly known as thale cress, leaf formation relies on very similar cellular dynamics, with growth concentrated at their ...
Phys.org / ATLAS acts as a cosmic-ray laboratory with first measurement of proton–oxygen collisions
Tens of kilometers above Earth's surface, high-energy particles from outer space constantly strike the atmosphere, creating showers of energetic secondary particles that rain down from the sky. Approximately one of these ...
Phys.org / More effective, longer-lasting sunscreen made from natural extracts
Scientists from the Laboratory of Dermatological Photobiology of the University of Malaga, in collaboration with Cantabria Labs España, have carried out a study in which, for the first time, they have demonstrated how a natural ...
Phys.org / Better-fed calves are more motivated to play, pioneering study shows
New research has revealed dairy calves that are fed less complete tasks faster and remember more in pursuit of milk, but miss out on play. Calves that were given more food were more inclined to play. The study, led by the ...
Phys.org / Black bears are emerging as roaming reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria across expanding US ranges
A new gut microbiome study of bears in eastern North Carolina expands our understanding of microbial ecosystems in omnivores and contributes to the broader idea that bear feces could help scientists monitor changes in the ...
Phys.org / A laser inspired by black holes: Extreme physics recreated in the lab
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have successfully recreated key features of black hole physics in a laboratory setting using an innovative optical system that mimics how black holes behave after violent cosmic events ...
Phys.org / Water-based process could make compostable packaging practical at industrial speeds
About 30% of plastics consumed are made to last forever but are discarded after a single use. Researchers at Virginia Tech are working to change that with a new approach that could make environmentally responsible packaging ...
Phys.org / One-step method reveals structures of RNA-protein complexes in living cells
A new method developed at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions allows researchers to better understand how RNA works. The method, published in Molecular Cell, is a powerful strategy for identifying intricate ...
Phys.org / Perovskite quantum dots crack two big barriers, staying stable in polar solvents and growing with atomic precision
Perovskite quantum dots are considered promising materials for LEDs, photocatalysis, and future quantum light sources. Researchers at LMU Munich have managed to master two major hurdles in working with these quantum dots: ...
Phys.org / Stretching and squeezing diamond opens new path for ultra-precise quantum sensors
Researchers have discovered a new way to tune the quantum properties of tiny defects in diamond—by gently stretching or compressing the crystal. These findings could pave the way for next-generation sensors that can detect ...