Phys.org news
Phys.org / A hidden Oregon basin and a shallower slab sharpen the Cascadia megaquake threat
A new look at the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate beneath the coast of northern Oregon suggests this subducting slab is shallower than previously thought, with impacts on potential peak ground shaking during a Cascadia megathrust ...
Phys.org / Sex pheromone of a sandgrain-sized insect deciphered
Parasitic wasps of the genus Trichogramma are among the smallest insects in the world—yet they play an important role in natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes as natural antagonists of pest species. Research teams ...
Phys.org / Industrial chemical leaks could push ozone layer recovery back by 7 years
The recovery of the ozone layer in Earth's stratosphere could be delayed by several years, according to an international study led by Swiss research institution Empa which included contributions from University of Bristol ...
Phys.org / Temperature shifts change plant proteins that power photosynthesis
Humans adjust to changes in temperature by putting on a sweater or taking off layers. Plants adjust to temperature changes, in part, by switching the way they express the protein that performs the critical first step of photosynthesis, ...
Phys.org / Scientists unlock shape-shifting living tissue, programming cells to fold flat sheets into precise 3D forms
Biological tissues have a remarkable ability to organize and change shape, driven by forces generated by their own cells. One of the major challenges in bioengineering is harnessing this natural behavior to design synthetic ...
Phys.org / Closing the carbon cycle: Unraveling the roles of light and heat in CO₂ photocatalysis
Rising carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from human activities are the largest contributor to global warming. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global CO2 emissions reached an all-time high of 37.8 gigatons ...
Phys.org / Warmer winters and snow drought may threaten western US water by speeding flows
As future shifts in climate lead to more rain and less snow in the western United States, new research finds that water will move faster through a landscape, likely leading to negative impacts on summer water levels and water ...
Phys.org / Warm-bodied sharks and tunas face 'double jeopardy' in warming seas
A new study reveals that some of the ocean's most powerful predators are running hotter, and that they are likely paying an increasingly steep price for it. The significance of this headline finding is the "double jeopardy" ...
Phys.org / Solar flares' domino effect isn't limited to the sun, 16,000-star sweep reveals
Our sun is a roiling mass of energy, with solar flares exploding on its surface, sending gas, plasma, and light that blasts across the solar system. When radiation from extra-powerful flares breaks through Earth's outer protective ...
Phys.org / 'Dancing jets' from black hole reveal an immense power equivalent to 10,000 suns
New Curtin University-led research has used a radio telescope that spans Earth to snap images that measure the immense power of jets from black holes, confirming scientists' theories of how black holes help shape the structure ...
Phys.org / ALMA confirms rare quasar pair at redshift 5.7 in merging galaxies
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers have discovered a close pair of quasars, which is a result of a distant massive galaxy merger. The detection of the quasar pair was detailed in a ...
Phys.org / Human sense of smell evolved with diets and lifestyle, genetic study suggests
From the ability to detect the smell of wet soil to the scent of ripe fruit, the human olfactory system has evolved over thousands of years in response to how people live and what they eat, according to a new genetic study ...