Phys.org news

Phys.org / What's that swirly pattern? It's a moiré, and it has potential power

Just as wave-like patterns can appear on a computer screen when pixels do not align, new research led by Flinders University is investigating atomic-scale "moiré patterns" in the promising field of ferroelectricity. The new ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Archaeological digs in Amazon provide clues about Indigenous inhabitants before colonization

Paving roads in the Amazon rainforest has long brought deforestation that threatens the people who live there. The same roadwork, however, has also allowed archaeologists to get glimpses of the region's past long before Europeans ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Molecular chains unlock atomically precise nanoribbons for next-generation electronics

Scientists have developed a unique way to build electronic components so small they are made from chains of individual molecules—creating a toolbox to help build materials that could power the next generation of technology.

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Nuclear war at Ukraine-Russia border could trigger years of global climate disruption and radioactive fallout

Geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe underscore the urgency of addressing the climate and radiological consequences of a regional nuclear conflict. Even a small-scale nuclear conflict at the Ukraine–Russia border could ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Amazon River plume: Where microalgae go carnivorous to win

In the vast plume of the Amazon River, microscopic algae adopt a surprisingly flexible survival strategy: They combine photosynthesis with the uptake of organic matter. An international research team led by the Leibniz Institute ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / Scientists discover how the Twelve Apostles were formed—and their real age

Scientists at the University of Melbourne have uncovered for the first time how Australia's iconic Twelve Apostles were formed, finding tectonic plate movements over millions of years lifted and tilted the giant structures ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / This flower's toxic traits hold clues for safer drugs

The molecules of a highly toxic plant, known for its bell-shaped purple and pink flowers and found in some home gardens, have long been used to regulate human heart muscles.

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Black grouse eye test reveals best flags to protect birds from fatal cables

There is a silent killer lurking in the French Alps: ski lift cables. Over the last 60 years, the wires have accounted for almost 600 recorded landfowl deaths in the region. Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) account for ~70% ...

7 hours ago
Phys.org / Gene-sharing view challenged as bacteria shown to police DNA exchange

A new study finds that bacteria can actively block the transfer of beneficial genes to neighboring cells, using specialized proteins to specifically destroy shared DNA before it spreads. This challenges the long-held view ...

8 hours ago
Phys.org / From air to tea: New sensor reveals invisible pollution in minutes

Fine particulate matter in the air or nanoparticles in water—a remarkable new technology developed at TU Wien makes it possible to detect tiny amounts of a wide range of substances in a very short time.

8 hours ago
Phys.org / Honeybees pass their math test, upending an animal intelligence debate

We've run the numbers and the verdict is in: Honeybees do have the ability to process numerical information. New research led by Monash University has now addressed recent international debate over whether bees are truly ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / How an Atlantic island narrowly escaped 'stealthy' eruption

Thousands of earthquakes affecting Portugal's São Jorge Island in the Azores in March 2022 were triggered by a vast sheet of magma (molten rock) rising from more than 20km below Earth's surface and stalling just 1.6km beneath ...

9 hours ago