Phys.org news

Phys.org / Uranium-based catalyst turns air nitrogen into ammonia
Ammonia (NH3) is vital for agriculture, as it is the basis for fertilizers that are needed to feed the world's population. Currently, ammonia is mostly produced by the Haber-Bosch process, which turns nitrogen gas (N2) from ...

Phys.org / Scientists find the first ice core from the European Alps that dates back to the last Ice Age
Glaciers hold layers of history preserved in ice, offering unique insights into Earth's past that can also help us interpret the future. Trapped amidst the frozen water are microscopic deposits of dust, pollen, and even pollutants ...

Phys.org / Ancient fault line poses future earthquake hazard in Canada's North
New research led by the University of Victoria (UVic) has illuminated a significant and previously unrecognized source of seismic hazard for the Yukon Territory of northwestern Canada.

Phys.org / Research reveals how the superfungus Candida auris withstands antifungal treatment
A groundbreaking study from Michigan State University (MSU), published in Nature Communications, reveals how the multidrug-resistant superfungus Candida auris uniquely reconstructs its cell wall to survive antifungal treatments. ...

Phys.org / 'Adventurous' vs 'homebody' anemonefish: Research reveals key influences in diversification and evolution
Scientists have long assumed that anemonefish's tight-knit relationship with sea anemones, their protective hosts, was the main engine behind their evolutionary diversification. But the team wondered if other ecological factors ...

Phys.org / Man's best friend could be the spotted lanternfly's worst enemy
A new study led by Virginia Tech found that volunteer dog-handler teams—made up of everyday people and their pets—can effectively detect the elusive egg masses of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that's damaging ...

Phys.org / Some Australian dolphins use sponges to hunt fish, but it's harder than it looks
Some dolphins in Australia have a special technique to flush fish from the seafloor. They hunt with a sponge on their beak, like a clown nose.

Phys.org / Rethinking the Big Bang: Gravity and quantum ripples may explain cosmic origins
A team of scientists led by expert Raúl Jiménez, ICREA researcher at the University of Barcelona's Institute of Cosmos Sciences (ICCUB), in collaboration with the University of Padua (Italy), has presented a revolutionary ...

Phys.org / You only get one brain: The best helmet material for protecting your noggin
Though participation in sports can have positive impacts both physiologically and socially, extreme sports, like football and roller derby, come with elevated risks. In a 2019 study, over 40% of 498 athletes suffered at least ...

Phys.org / Ancient footprints reveal Neanderthal family hunts on beaches
Ancient footprints found near the shores of Portugal's Algarve region are giving us fresh insights into the lives of coastal-dwelling Neanderthals. An international study led by Carlos Neto de Carvalho of the University of ...

Phys.org / NASA's IXPE imager reveals mysteries of rare pulsar
An international team of astronomers has uncovered new evidence to explain how pulsing remnants of exploded stars interact with surrounding matter deep in the cosmos, using observations from NASA's IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry ...

Phys.org / Atomic swap in morphine core structure leads to safer, non-rewarding opioid alternative
One of the greatest revolutions in the field of pain medication was the isolation of morphine from the opium poppy in the 19th century. Morphine molecules act as painkillers by attaching themselves to the µ-opioid receptor ...