Phys.org news
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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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 ...
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 / Satellites spot surprising tsunami patterns: Massive Kamchatka quake challenges old models
A satellite deployed to measure ocean surface heights was up to the challenge when a massive earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami in late July.
Phys.org / Electric discharges detected on Mars for the first time
On Mars, winds constantly stir up whirlwinds of fine dust. It was at the center of two of these dust devils that the SuperCam instrument's microphone, the first ever to operate on Mars, accidentally recorded particularly ...