Phys.org news

Phys.org / Moon base missions face an unseen threat, and these simulations show where it could strike first

Researchers have developed a novel virtual model for simulating how astronauts in future moon base operations might interact with each other and with their environment, with preliminary simulations revealing potential opportunities ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / 'Feathered dragon' has some of the longest tail feathers ever found on a fossil bird

Birds have all kinds of fancy decorations for attracting mates—male peacocks have a fan of feathers accented with shimmering blue eye-spots, birds of paradise do courtship dances that highlight their fluffy plumes, and female ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Corn Belt groundwater and irrigation boost thunderstorm complexes by 24–35%, simulations show

An international team of scientists has demonstrated how powerful thunderstorm complexes over the U.S. Corn Belt are fueled by moisture rising from the region's fertile fields or just beneath them. The findings can lead to ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / Are the chemicals around you safe? Researchers are using AI to find out

People are exposed to thousands of chemicals every day—through the products they use, the food they eat and the environments they live in—but only a fraction of those chemicals have been fully tested for safety.

20 hours ago
Phys.org / Analysis of more than 10,000 cities reveals hidden details governments can use to better support their people

The world's urban population increased by 785 million people between 2000 and 2020, but that tells only part of the story. Now, a research team including an expert from the University of Michigan has dug into the demographics ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / Sea squirt reveals glowing spines and unexpected nervous system anatomy

Ascidians, also known as sea squirts, are the evolutionary link between vertebrates and invertebrates, making them valuable subjects of biological studies. For the first time, researchers at Ruhr University Bochum have detected ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Long-distance bat migration runs on fatty acids, challenging limits of mammal metabolism

Bats are the only mammals that can actively fly, enabling many species to perform seasonal migrations. In migratory birds, remaining airborne for many hours is supported by burning fatty acids, something most mammals are ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / How developing immune cells fine-tune their signals

Researchers at VIB, Ghent University, and VUB have uncovered how two proteins essential for immune cell development work together at the molecular level. The findings provide important insights into a critical mechanism that ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Revised mushroom toxin pathway could improve poisoning detection

The St. George's mushroom (Calocybe gambosa) is a popular edible mushroom, usually picked in May. Unfortunately, however, it also carries a risk as it can easily be confused with the young deadly fiber cap, which can potentially ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / New biosynthesis platform could enable bioactive compounds to be labeled, targeted and released on demand

Many medically important drugs originate from natural sources. Microorganisms produce these compounds using highly sophisticated and remarkably precise enzymatic assembly lines. Many natural microbial products belong to a ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Trust and patience link to higher happiness across 76 countries

A study covering 76 countries has found that people who are more trusting, patient, altruistic and cooperative tend to report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction, suggesting that well-being depends on more than ...

23 hours ago
Phys.org / Researchers link specific microbiomes to archaeological bone degradation

Well-preserved archaeological bone samples have different microbial communities than heavily degraded bone samples, providing a new understanding of how microbes contribute to bone degradation, according to a study published ...

23 hours ago