Phys.org news
Phys.org / Thirsty desert lizards inspire a new water-harvesting system
When the desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) is thirsty, it cannot just lap up water or scoop it up like a bird because it lives in environments where water is extremely scarce. Typically, it's found in damp soil ...
Phys.org / Quantum waves reveal one-sided motion marking elusive critical states
Sound waves, light waves and other types of waves, generally spread freely through space and over time. In 1958, physicist Philip W. Anderson first described a phenomenon via which irregularities or other sources of disorder ...
Phys.org / Tiny water droplets transmutate aniline into pyridine in ambient and catalyst-free conditions
Aniline can now be transformed into pyridine without adding any catalysts, oxidants or toxic reagents. In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers achieved skeletal editing, involving ...
Phys.org / Apes and humans have been sharing a laugh for 15 million years
Great apes may have been laughing with a similar rhythm to modern humans for at least 15 million years, a University of Warwick study reveals. The finding offers unexpected clues to how human speech evolved.
Phys.org / Why old nuclear-site concrete could become a tool for trapping strontium-90
Crushed concrete from legacy nuclear facilities could play a far greater role in safely managing radioactive land than previously understood. Research published in ACS ES&T Water and conducted by scientists from the University ...
Phys.org / Ancient stellar flyby may still be steering long-period comets today
The Gaia mission has allowed researchers to understand the motions of stars like never before, even revealing possible interactions between our solar system and nearby stars. Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Nathan ...
Phys.org / Ultra-fast light-shaping technology could be 'game-changer' for future imaging
Scientists have developed a new type of "virtual" metasurface—capable of controlling light in ways traditional lenses and optics can't—which they say is superior to the current approach, which relies on ultrathin engineered ...
Phys.org / Commute stress can fuel workplace conflict, but research suggests a simple fix
Pothole season, summer construction season or maybe bad weather. No matter the time of year, it's no surprise commuters who drive to work may start their day already feeling a bit on edge.
Phys.org / Natural hallucinogens may have evolved as ecological tools, not chemical accidents
Natural hallucinogens, such as psilocybin, mescaline, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and related compounds, have generally received attention for their effects on human perception, emotion and cognition. Recently, interest ...
Phys.org / Centuries-old planktonic shell mystery solved with discovery of self-assembling proteins
Biomaterials with extraordinary properties, such as spider silk, have so far been known primarily from animals. Researchers at the University of Salzburg in Austria have now deciphered a surprising counterpart from the world ...
Phys.org / Inorganic nanoscale device behaves like a single neuron, opening doors for AI and retinal implants
McGill University researchers have developed a light-detecting nanoscale structure that mimics how a neuron processes information. The neuron-like behavior emerges from the materials themselves, reducing the energy demand ...
Phys.org / Ancient asteroid barrage may explain why early Earth had no stable continents
New research led by Curtin University and QUT (Queensland University of Technology) has revealed that repeated asteroid impacts may have been the dominant force shaping early Earth, delivering vast amounts of heat into the ...
