Phys.org news
Phys.org / Superheated magma may explain why similar volcanoes erupt in very different ways
Scientists have shed light on a thermal process in magma that may help explain why similar volcanic systems can produce very different eruptive behaviors.
Phys.org / Antibiotics drive resistance in waterways—even after they break down
Antibiotics continue to drive resistance in bacteria, even after they are broken down in wastewater treatment plants and discharged into rivers and seas, new research published on World Oceans Day has shown for the first ...
Phys.org / Wonderwerk Cave bones reveal possible fire use by human ancestors 1.79 million years ago
The discovery of fire was a major milestone in human evolution, giving our ancestors a way to stay warm, ward off predators, and eventually start cooking food. But exactly when this first happened is still intensely debated, ...
Phys.org / Quantum circuits help AI overcome memory limitations with minimal new parameters
For millions of people, chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) are now a key feature of everyday life. These AI systems are growing at a rapid pace, but scaling them up is becoming increasingly costly and resource-intensive.
Phys.org / Lunar orbiter concept could reveal five key elements across moon in two years
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a newly developed, compact X-ray telescope could be used to map the chemical composition of the entire lunar surface, a vital breakthrough ...
Phys.org / Gold nanoparticles unlock vibrant structural colors across the visible spectrum
Colloidal photonic glasses offer an appealing way to produce vivid colors without any chemical dyes—but so far, a stubborn optical effect has long prevented them from generating a true red color. Now, Yuwon Jeon and colleagues ...
Phys.org / Epigenetic changes can be inherited without changing DNA in animals
Typically, the information encoded in DNA allows organisms to develop, function, and pass traits across generations. Yet DNA alone does not explain how genes are switched on and off in different cells and environments. This ...
Phys.org / How gene swapping helped build the planet's decomposers
Decomposers are crucial for keeping Earth habitable, breaking down dead biomass and returning key nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, to the ecosystem. Most decomposers, including fungi, survive through osmotrophy—a ...
Phys.org / Continuous stirring made early life-like RNA systems more extinction-prone, experiment shows
Recent research showed that an artificially constructed self-replicating RNA system modeling primitive life at the origin of life evolved to become more prone to extinction under certain experimental conditions.
Phys.org / 'Flawless on the outside, flipped within': Detecting hidden defects in 2D dielectrics with light
A material may appear flawless on the surface yet fail to function properly. The cause lies in structural defects hidden within two-dimensional thin films, which are considered key materials for next-generation semiconductor ...
Phys.org / First nonrepeating biological clock discovered in C. elegans guides growth
Imagine a train parked at the station. Passengers climb aboard and find their seats. Conductors move up and down the aisles, checking tickets. But there's a problem—the engineer's watch is broken. As a result, the doors never ...
Phys.org / Terahertz biophotonics: Understanding the path towards practical applications for biological imaging
Biophotonics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the development and application of light-based technologies to study, monitor and treat biological systems. The ability to directly image cells and molecules has led ...
