Phys.org news
Phys.org / Water-based process could make compostable packaging practical at industrial speeds
About 30% of plastics consumed are made to last forever but are discarded after a single use. Researchers at Virginia Tech are working to change that with a new approach that could make environmentally responsible packaging ...
Phys.org / One-step method reveals structures of RNA-protein complexes in living cells
A new method developed at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions allows researchers to better understand how RNA works. The method, published in Molecular Cell, is a powerful strategy for identifying intricate ...
Phys.org / Stretching and squeezing diamond opens new path for ultra-precise quantum sensors
Researchers have discovered a new way to tune the quantum properties of tiny defects in diamond—by gently stretching or compressing the crystal. These findings could pave the way for next-generation sensors that can detect ...
Phys.org / Mars rover detects never-before-seen organic compounds in new experiment
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has uncovered a diverse mix of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals widely considered building blocks for the origin of life on Earth.
Phys.org / Laser bursts flip nanoscale magnetic vortices at blistering speeds, opening a path to brain-like spintronics
Spintronics are devices that operate leveraging the spin, an intrinsic form of angular momentum, of electrons. The ability to switch magnetic states is central to the functioning of these devices, as it ultimately allows ...
Phys.org / Pressure-tuned quantum spin liquid-like behavior observed in material Y-kapellasite
A quantum spin liquid is a phase of matter in which the magnetic moments in a material do not align or freeze, even at temperatures close to absolute zero (i.e., at 0 K). The experimental realization of this highly dynamic ...
Phys.org / Simple ocean-based model forecasts a powerful El Niño, over 2 °C warmer than normal
For decades, scientists have worked to improve predictions of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate powerhouse that can cause droughts, flooding, marine heat waves, and more around the world. Researchers from the ...
Phys.org / Breaking a shared defense restores antibiotics against two cystic fibrosis lung bacteria
A newly discovered mechanism renders antibiotic-resistant bacteria vulnerable by disabling both their individual resistance and a process known as cross-protection, the ability of resistant bacteria to shield nearby, otherwise ...
Phys.org / AI maps mammals' molecular 'dark matter' by predicting billions of missing metabolites
Invisible "dark matter"—what cosmologists call the mysterious glue that holds everything together—is estimated to make up more than a quarter of the universe. In chemistry, dark matter refers to the thousands of small molecules ...
Phys.org / Could the mathematical 'shape' of the universe solve the cosmological constant problem?
The cosmological constant is the mathematical description of the energy that drives the ever-accelerating expansion of the cosmos. It's also the source of one of the most enduring and confounding problems in modern physics.
Phys.org / Water simulation of famous quantum effect reveals unexpected wave patterns
In the quirky quantum world, particles can be affected by forces that they never directly encounter. A classic example is the Aharonov–Bohm (AB) effect, where electrons are affected by a magnetic field, despite not passing ...
Phys.org / Disabled parrot is undefeated alpha male of his group thanks to novel 'beak jousting'
A study reported in Current Biology shows how physical disabilities in the animal world can be overcome through behavioral innovation. The report features an endangered kea parrot in captivity at New Zealand's Willowbank ...
