Phys.org news
Phys.org / Plant diversity boosts natural pest control in farms, while forests and grasslands follow different rules
Plant diversity has long been regarded as key to stable and resilient ecosystems. However, until now, little has been understood about why it has different effects in agricultural areas than in grasslands or forests. An international ...
Phys.org / Mars auroras reveal miniature version of Earth's magnetic engine
NASA MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission scientists have uncovered a key puzzle piece in understanding certain types of auroras on Mars, finding that they form in a similar way to Earth–based auroras.
Phys.org / Earlier toilet training could curb growing diaper waste crisis
Earlier toilet training and new recycling technologies are among expert-backed solutions to reduce the environmental impact of disposable diapers and other hygiene products, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.
Phys.org / Colorado basins supplying 70% of Lake Powell's water face major midcentury shortages
If the Colorado River Basin is the lifeblood of the American Southwest, keeping the region's agricultural, ecological and economic systems thriving, Colorado's West Slope River basins could be considered the heart. Together, ...
Phys.org / Quantum Newton's cradle set to level up computing
Sending quantum information through a chain of qubits, like energy through a Newton's cradle, could be the key to faster operations and take quantum computing to the next level.
Phys.org / Lithium ions sprint up to 10,000 times faster when their molecular cages briefly open
An international collaborative research group led by Professor Bong June Sung of the Department of Chemistry at Sogang University and Professor Shinji Saito of the Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes ...
Phys.org / Universal structure of exceptional points revealed in nonlinear light‑based systems
Exceptional points, or EPs for short, are among the phenomena of modern physics. These are special points or locations at which the properties of matter, space or time change. In a new theoretical study, researchers from ...
Phys.org / Destructive crop caterpillar harbors fungi that can degrade Styrofoam
A moth caterpillar identified by the agribusiness sector as one of the most destructive pests of soybean, cotton and corn crops may harbor fungi and bacteria in its gut that can degrade expanded polystyrene, also known as ...
Phys.org / Spent coffee grounds reveal a route to biodiesel and other bio-based products
Coffee grounds that usually end up being thrown away can have a second life as a raw material for producing biofuels and other high-value-added products. A study by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) has evaluated how ...
Phys.org / Global map reveals mining's uneven toll on forests and biodiversity
A new study led by Japanese researchers from Tohoku University and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) reveals that some of the minerals most essential for green technologies may have a significant negative ...
Phys.org / Simple circuit brings topological insulators closer to practical electrical measurement standards
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have succeeded in detecting exceptionally robust electrical transport in a topological insulator. This could lead to new metrological applications. The work is published in the journal ...
Phys.org / Human impacts rewrite the rules of island biodiversity around the globe
A new study reveals that human activities have fundamentally reshaped biodiversity patterns on islands across the globe, with important implications for how scientists understand ecology, evolution and conservation.
