Phys.org news
Phys.org / Unprecedented levels of forever chemicals found in dolphins and whales
New research has revealed that marine mammals who live far below the ocean's surface are not immune from the burden of toxic forever chemicals, with whales and dolphins showing unprecedented levels of PFAS contamination.
Phys.org / Thousands of genomes reveal the wild wolf genes in most dogs' DNA
Dogs were the first of any species that people domesticated, and they have been a constant part of human life for millennia. Domesticated species are the plants and animals that have evolved to live alongside humans, providing ...
Phys.org / Social media research tool can lower political temperature—it could also lead to more user control over algorithms
A new tool shows it is possible to turn down the partisan rancor in an X feed—without removing political posts and without the direct cooperation of the platform.
Phys.org / Watching metal crystals grow inside liquid metal: Imaging technique could boost hydrogen production
If you dissolve sugar in hot water and then cool it down, you'll see pure sugar crystals form while impurities stay in the liquid. You can even watch the beautiful sugar crystals slowly grow in the water.
Phys.org / Scientists capture the crackling sounds of what they believe is lightning on Mars
Scientists have detected what they believe to be lightning on Mars by eavesdropping on the whirling wind recorded by NASA's Perseverance rover.
Phys.org / Meteorite samples are time capsules from the early solar system
When a meteor streaks across the sky, it's not just beautiful. It's nature's way of delivering a time capsule to Earth. Contained within are hints about the very beginning of the solar system and how planets, including our ...
Phys.org / Mystery foot belongs to ancient human relative: Scientists
Newly discovered fossils prove that a mysterious foot found in Ethiopia belongs to a little-known, recently named ancient human relative who lived alongside the species of the famous Lucy, scientists said Wednesday.
Phys.org / Survey raises estimate of African forest elephant numbers
DNA pulled from the dung of African forest elephants has given experts a more accurate—and higher—population estimate for the elusive animal, but the species remains critically endangered, a study showed Thursday.
Phys.org / DNA transcription is a tightly choreographed event: How RNA polymerase II regulates the dance
Life's instructions are written in DNA, but it is the enzyme RNA polymerase II (Pol II) that reads the script, transcribing RNA in eukaryotic cells and eventually giving rise to proteins. Scientists know that Pol II must ...
Phys.org / RNA in action: Filming ribozyme self-assembly
RNA is a central biological macromolecule, now widely harnessed in medicine and nanotechnology. Like proteins, RNA function often depends on its precise three-dimensional structure. A recent study published in Nature Communications ...
Phys.org / Drones: An ally in the sky to help save elephants
They say an elephant never forgets—and it turns out they can learn to adapt to drones. Once seen as a source of alarm, drones are now proving to be surprisingly elephant-friendly and a valuable research tool. Previously, ...
Phys.org / Instagram users overestimate their social media addiction, study suggests
Instagram users may overestimate the extent to which they are addicted to the platform, according to research conducted on 1,204 U.S. adults published in Scientific Reports. The findings suggest that for most social media ...