Phys.org news
Phys.org / Giant jars, ancient bells, buried bones and a mystery that endures
Helping to preserve artifacts, some potentially 2,000 years old, was an irresistible privilege. Since 2016, an Australian-Lao team led by Louise Shewan, Dougald O'Reilly and Thonglith Luangkhoth has conducted archaeological ...
Phys.org / Ancient architecture shows public opinion influenced Maya divine kings
Excavation of a council house at the major Lowland Maya center of Ucanal, Guatemala, reveals how the public gained some influence over Maya politics more than 1,000 years ago. These colonnaded, open halls were likely council ...
Phys.org / Ancient tectonic processes are the key to locating rare minerals
New research from Adelaide University has revealed that geological processes dating back billions of years are critical to locating the rare earth elements needed for modern technologies and the global clean energy transition. ...
Phys.org / Electron–atom scattering encodes the quantum state of electron wave packets
A new analysis reveals what happens when very short or narrow electron beams encounter a particle. The research is published in the New Journal of Physics. Scientists should be able to achieve a new level of control over ...
Phys.org / Mathematical model predicts fish freshness in real time
Every day, fish caught in oceans and seas around the world pass through a long journey before reaching supermarkets, restaurants, and home kitchens. Along the way, their freshness steadily declines, often in ways that are ...
Phys.org / 'Pinprick of light': Artemis crew witnesses meteorite impacts on moon
During their historic lunar flyby, astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission witnessed meteorites striking the rugged surface of the moon, a sight that has piqued scientists' curiosity.
Phys.org / Pollinator-friendly gardens don't have to sacrifice style
For gardeners who love colorful, tidy flower beds, helping pollinators doesn't have to mean going fully wild. A new study from plant biologists at Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden found that some cultivated ...
Phys.org / Robust against noise, geometric-phase swap gates bring stability to quantum operations
Researchers at ETH Zurich have realized particularly stable quantum logical operations with qubits made of neutral atoms. Since these operations, called quantum gates, are based on geometric phases, they are extremely robust ...
Phys.org / Neanderthals in Central Europe hunted pond turtles—not for food, but likely for their shells
Neanderthals hunted European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) in Central Europe, though probably not for food. The careful cleaning of carapace elements at Neumark-Nord indicates that shells were reused, perhaps as small containers ...
Phys.org / Human-altered mountains drive most fatal landslides worldwide, analysis finds
A new study reveals that most fatal landslides occur in human-transformed environments. Conducted by an international team of researchers from the University of Vienna, Ankara University, Istanbul Technical University, Bursa ...
Phys.org / Mussels and mistletoe inspire design for sustainable materials
Taking inspiration from how mussels and mistletoe plants build natural fibers and adhesives, researchers at McGill University have developed a new way to manufacture complex materials that could offer a more environmentally ...
Phys.org / The binding sites that guide fungal 'vesicle hitchhiking'—new study maps mRNA transport
A specific protein controls mRNA transport in fungi and distinguishes important from unimportant binding sites in the transported mRNAs. Researchers from Würzburg and Düsseldorf have discovered this mechanism.