Phys.org news
Phys.org / Mysterious gas clouds near Milky Way's black hole now have a likely source
New observations and simulations by a team of researchers led by MPE reveal that a massive binary star near our galaxy's center is responsible for creating a series of enigmatic gas clouds—compact gas clumps that help feed ...
Phys.org / Quantum chips could scale faster with new spin-qubit readout that reduces sensors and wiring
Quantum computers, devices that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, could tackle some tasks that are difficult or impossible to solve using classical computers. These systems represent data as qubits, ...
Phys.org / Giant octopuses may have ruled the oceans 100 million years ago
Today's octopuses are intelligent, remarkably flexible animals that lurk in reefs, hide in crevices, or drift through the deep sea. But new research suggests that their earliest relatives may have played a far more predatory ...
Phys.org / Climate and competition alone cannot explain Neanderthal extinction, study finds
A new modeling study suggests that greater connectivity between groups may have given Homo sapiens the edge over Neanderthals. Why Neanderthals went extinct and Homo sapiens established a lasting presence in Europe is still ...
Phys.org / New bioreactor turns stem cells into an immune-cell factory, producing 40 million human macrophages per week
Researchers at Hannover Medical School (MHH) have developed a method for the efficient production of human immune cells, such as macrophages, in medium-sized bioreactors. These immune cells can be derived from induced pluripotent ...
Phys.org / From the Pampas to Patagonia, DNA reveals South America's human history
A new genetic study shows that cultural diversity in the so-called Southern Cone—the roughly triangular southernmost part of South America—was strongly influenced by extensive human migration. An international research team ...
Phys.org / DNA damage just got more complicated: A long-missed weak spot emerges when light and oxygen strike
In everyday life, our genetic material is constantly under attack from many factors. Environmental influences such as light, along with internal processes like inflammation, can generate oxidative stress that damages DNA ...
Phys.org / Nuclear war at Ukraine-Russia border could trigger years of global climate disruption and radioactive fallout
Geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe underscore the urgency of addressing the climate and radiological consequences of a regional nuclear conflict. Even a small-scale nuclear conflict at the Ukraine–Russia border could ...
Phys.org / Study shows a widely used antifungal drug works only when its target enzyme is active
Serious fungal infections are on the rise, and many hospital-acquired cases are becoming harder to treat as fungi become resistant to available medications. One of the most widely used therapies, caspofungin, combats Candida ...
Phys.org / Common soil fungus could cut pesticide use while helping tomatoes grow stronger
Trichoderma species—a common fungus found in soils—have varying abilities to promote tomato plant growth and differentially affect the abundance of certain soil bacteria, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State.
Phys.org / Divergent moral values could make groups more accepting of norm-breaking behavior
Individuals in a morally diverse community tend to believe that the community's norms are looser. In turn, norm violations are more accepted, and there is a reduced willingness to police transgressions, according to research ...
Phys.org / Scientists discover how the Twelve Apostles were formed—and their real age
Scientists at the University of Melbourne have uncovered for the first time how Australia's iconic Twelve Apostles were formed, finding tectonic plate movements over millions of years lifted and tilted the giant structures ...
