Phys.org news
Phys.org / Petra aqueduct survey uncovers rare 116-meter lead conduit beside terracotta pipe
In a recent study, Niklas Jungmann from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin conducted a survey and investigation of the 'Ain Braq aqueduct of the ancient city of Petra. It was discovered that, unlike previously believed, ...
Phys.org / Could apes 'play pretend' like toddlers? A study tracks imaginary juice and grapes
In a series of tea party-like experiments, Johns Hopkins University researchers demonstrate for the first time that apes can use their imagination and play pretend, an ability thought to be uniquely human.
Phys.org / Hannibal's famous war elephants: Single bone in Spain offers first direct evidence
Historical accounts of the Punic Wars—and many other ancient wars—often paint a picture of soldiers riding in on imposing "war elephants." Yet, no skeletal remains of these war elephants had ever been found from the Punic ...
Phys.org / From deer to chickadees: How fewer social encounters could raise extinction risk
Imagine an asteroid striking Earth and wiping out most of the human population. Even if some lucky people survived the impact, Homo sapiens might still face extinction, because the social networks humans rely on would collapse.
Phys.org / Scents of the afterlife: Identifying embalming recipes by 'sniffing' the air around Egyptian mummies
If you have ever stood close to an ancient Egyptian mummy, you may remember a distinctive, lingering odor. For a long time, it was assumed that this was simply due to age and decay. However, scientists have discovered that ...
Phys.org / 'Jetty McJetface': Star-shredding black hole may keep ramping up its radio jet until 2027 peak
A supermassive black hole with a case of cosmic indigestion has been burping out the remains of a shredded star for four years—and it's still going strong, new research led by a University of Oregon astrophysicist shows.
Phys.org / Finger length could provide vital clue to understanding human brain evolution
The evolution of the human species is marked by an increase in brain size. Now new research suggests that could be partly dependent on increases in prenatal estrogen—revealed by looking at the length of a person's fingers. ...
Phys.org / VIP-2 experiment narrows the search for exotic physics beyond the Pauli exclusion principle
The Pauli exclusion principle is a cornerstone of the Standard Model of particle physics and is essential for the structure and stability of matter. Now an international collaboration of physicists has carried out one of ...
Phys.org / Detection system uses gravitational waves to map merging black holes
An international collaboration of astrophysicists that includes researchers from Yale has created and tested a detection system that uses gravitational waves to map out the locations of merging black holes—known as supermassive ...
Phys.org / Understanding the hazard potential of the Seattle fault zone: It's 'pretty close to home'
In the Pacific Northwest, big faults like the Cascadian subduction zone located offshore, get a lot of attention. But big faults aren't the only ones that pose significant hazards, and a new study investigates the dynamics ...
Phys.org / When Earth's magnetic field took its time flipping
Earth's magnetic field is generated by the churn of its liquid nickel-iron outer core, but it is not a constant feature. Every so often, the magnetic north and south poles swap places in what are called geomagnetic reversals, ...
Phys.org / Unlocking the 'black box' of Grand Canyon's water supply
Every year at Grand Canyon National Park, millions of visitors from all over the world stop at one of a dozen water spigots. Most people are on a rim, seeing the canyon's majesty for the first time, when they step off the ...
