Phys.org news
Phys.org / Widely-used method for assessing stream health doesn't work very well
A new study finds a widely used technique for assessing the health of freshwater streams is not effective at detecting a range of water quality problems, including those related to acidity, oxygen levels and the presence ...
Phys.org / 3D-printable elastic polymer proves surprisingly strong and durable
EPFL researchers have discovered that a soft material originally optimized for 3D printing may solve a longstanding challenge in materials science: making 3D-printable elastomers both tough and durable.
Phys.org / Major earthquakes can affect Southeast Asia sea-level projections
Earth scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have published an international study showing that major earthquakes in Southeast Asia can affect regional relative sea-level projections.
Phys.org / 2.5 million stem cells reveal first genome-scale guide to gene function
A team led by bioengineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a genome-scale reference map that details how individual genes control the functions and identities of human stem cells. This open-access ...
Phys.org / Random by design: Flickering genes may spend energy to achieve precision
Inside the cell nucleus, genes must be turned on and off with precision to regulate biological processes. The first models of gene regulation were developed in the 1960s, yet modern science continues to uncover new layers ...
Phys.org / Oobleck droplets reveal 5 ways cornstarch 'goo' behaves when hitting water
Cornstarch can thicken soup or serve as a base for a DIY shampoo, but there's more to the humble pantry staple. Given the right conditions, it seems to defy the laws of physics. Mixing cornstarch with water creates "oobleck"—a ...
Phys.org / Atomic‐scale tracing of lithium trapped in copper current collectors
Any loss of lithium reduces the capacity and service life of lithium batteries. Recent research suggested that lithium is lost to the current collector during charging. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, working ...
Phys.org / World's first superconducting quantum heat engine offers path to larger quantum computers
Recent improvements in our understanding of how the principles of thermodynamics apply in the quantum realm could give a boost to quantum technology, and a clearer picture of quantum thermodynamics could in turn enhance our ...
Phys.org / RNA-only repair enzyme reveals how primordial life could have protected genomes
In most modern cells, DNA stores the genetic blueprint, and proteins replicate, repair and build from those blueprints. At the same time, proteins require instructions from DNA to be made in the first place.
Phys.org / Only 13% of biodiversity promises from 180 influential companies pass accountability test
New research by the University of Oxford and the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University has revealed that most biodiversity commitments made by large, influential companies are not precise enough to enable society ...
Phys.org / Gravitational waves reveal hidden populations within black hole mergers
Since gravitational waves were first detected in 2015, instruments including LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA have picked up a steady stream of signals from colliding black holes, building a catalog that now numbers in the hundreds. ...
Phys.org / Self‑building molecular rings bring next‑generation drug delivery and smart materials closer
Rotaxanes are dumbbell-shaped mechanically interlocked molecules in which one or more ring-shaped molecules are threaded through a linear segment, known as the axle. To keep the ring from sliding off, two bulky groups, sometimes ...
