Phys.org news
Phys.org / Rats show empathy, according to model
A rat first frees a cagemate rat and then shares food with it. Is this animal just as empathetic as humans? In an American study from 2011, researchers observed that rats first freed their fellow rats from a cage and then ...
Phys.org / European cities short on shade as heat waves hit, urban mapping reveals
More than four in five homes and workplaces across 25 European cities have less nearby tree canopy than what is needed for meaningful cooling, according to an open-data analysis by an urban greening expert.
Phys.org / Controlling magnetic chirality could help memory pack in more data
Magnetic storage devices, like a computer's hard disk drive, utilize magnets to represent binary data. However, as these devices are downsized, stray magnetic fields generated by individual magnetic components can interact ...
Phys.org / Greenland meltwater adds to AMOC weakening, but updated model finds no tipping point in sight
The state of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) has been a hot topic among climate scientists in recent years. The AMOC is crucial for climate regulation because it pulls warm surface water from the tropics ...
Phys.org / Astronomers may have caught an early galaxy in the process of dying
Astronomers have spotted many "red and dead" galaxies in the early universe. These are massive systems that stopped forming stars surprisingly early in cosmic history. Now, they may have found evidence of one in the act of ...
Phys.org / A young gull's mottled brown plumage acts as a 'not a threat' signal to territorial adults
Birds are known for their distinctive plumage that helps them attract mates during the breeding season. For some birds, the path to adulthood is quite linear. One day they are chicks, and a few months later they are fully ...
Phys.org / Optical writing of antiferromagnets points toward new storage devices and energy efficient information systems
A German-Japanese research team involving the University of Augsburg has made a significant breakthrough in the use of antiferromagnets. For the first time, the team has succeeded in writing magnetic information using only ...
Phys.org / Common nanostructures may explain shared photoproperties in two widespread dark materials
A newly developed framework for understanding the photoproperties of both natural organic matter and eumelanin, a natural pigment responsible for dark colors in organisms, may inspire advanced sustainable technologies, scientists ...
Dialog / Bacterial protein reveals a hidden rule for controlling calcium
A small change in acidity can transform the world around us. A squeeze of lemon changes the taste of food. Vinegar preserves vegetables. Stomach acid helps break down a meal. These familiar effects come from protons—tiny ...
Phys.org / One for the history books: What we know about the European heat wave
Europe is still taking stock of a powerful heat wave in late June, but experts are already confident it ranks among the worst ever recorded—even rivaling a freak 2003 episode.
Phys.org / New species of ghost shark may have been found in Costa Rica
Costa Rican scientists may have discovered a new species of ghost shark in Pacific waters near Cabo Blanco and Cano Island.
Phys.org / Antarctic ozone loss drove unexpected Southern Ocean cooling, climate model shows
The Southern Ocean has long stood out as an oddity in the global climate system. While most of the planet's surface oceans have warmed in response to rising greenhouse gases, waters circling Antarctica showed an unexpected ...
