Phys.org news

Phys.org / How young galaxies grew magnetic fields faster than expected

How fast can a galaxy build ordered magnetic fields spanning thousands of light-years? Existing theories say several billion years, but observations of galaxies in our universe imply shorter timescales. In a study published ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Why heights and snakes still hit harder: Study tracks fear sweat in 119 people

Fear-eliciting images of modern and ancestral threats are equally likely to evoke physiological reactions, despite their distinct evolutionary origins, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by ...

16 hours ago
Phys.org / Mental health policy is emerging as a key voting issue for Americans, study suggests

A new University of Missouri study suggests mental health policies can play a significant role in how Americans choose political candidates. Past scholarly research has found that most Americans say they support mental health ...

16 hours ago
Phys.org / Integrative archaeogenetics reveal how Southern Andean communities adopted farming and endured crises

An interdisciplinary study published in Nature reconstructs over 2,000 years of population history in Argentina's Uspallata Valley (UV), a southern frontier of Andean farming spread in ancient times, with broader lessons ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Colliding dust and the sparks of creation: Carbon-coated grains provide new clue to life's early energy

Two microscopic grains collide and produce a tiny spark. This phenomenon may have provided the energy to kick off life on Earth. But if these solid particles have the same composition, what factor causes the charge to flow ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Fossilized whale skulls reveal feeding secrets of sharks 5 million years ago

A new study analyzing two fossilized whale skulls from around 5 million years ago has revealed fragments of sharks' teeth lodged inside them. This provides rare evidence of how sharks fed on whales in north European waters ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Liquid biopsy method uses nanoparticle Raman signals to separate two lookalike enzymes

RIKEN researchers have demonstrated a method that can detect tiny amounts of biomarkers in liquid samples and can distinguish between highly similar biomarkers. This promises to boost the versatility and usefulness of liquid ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Using fiber-optic cables to detect moonquakes

Two recent studies suggest that fiber-optic cables laid directly on the moon's surface could potentially detect moonquakes, offering a simpler way to gather seismic data to support future human and robotic exploration.

20 hours ago
Phys.org / A 'two-factor authentication' system that controls microRNA destruction

Cells rely on tiny molecules called microRNAs to tune which genes are active and when. Cells must carefully control the lifespan of microRNAs to prevent widespread disruption to gene regulation. A new study led by researchers ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Rapid melting of Antarctic sea ice is largely driven by ocean warming, research reveals

Sea ice around Antarctica expanded for several decades until a dramatic decline in 2015. The reasons behind this are revealed by research led by the University of Gothenburg, which is published in Nature Climate Change.

20 hours ago
Phys.org / Mystery of quinine biosynthesis solved with newly discovered enzymes

For over 350 years, quinine and other extracts from the cinchona tree (Cinchona spp.) were the only effective medicines against malaria, a tropical fever caused by single-celled parasites of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Beavers can convert stream corridors to persistent carbon sinks

Beavers could engineer riverbeds into promising carbon dioxide sinks, according to a new international study led by researchers at the University of Birmingham. The paper, published in Communications Earth & Environment, ...

21 hours ago