Phys.org news
Phys.org / How do you know a bowhead whale is feeding? It's all in the way it moves, shows study
For years, scientists studying bowhead whales have relied on a simple idea: if a whale makes a long, square or U-shaped dive, it's feeding time. A new study demonstrates that assumption may not hold water.
Phys.org / Spin wave signals used in computing boosted more than 5,000 times in Z-shaped path approach
A research team from Tohoku University, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has invented a new way to efficiently guide spin waves around sharp corners with minimal loss—representing ...
Phys.org / Human-linked foraging reshapes dolphin social networks in Florida over decades
Wild dolphins are known for their complex social lives, but new research shows those social networks can be influenced by human activity.
Phys.org / Quantum vibronics research points to future energy and computing technologies
Scientists at the University of California, Riverside are making breakthroughs in understanding how quantum wave functions move across ultra-thin materials—research that could eventually improve solar energy technologies ...
Phys.org / MIZ-ing in action: How much of Antarctic sea ice is affected by waves?
Using old satellite radar techniques, scientists have developed a new way of measuring the true extent of an understudied and crucial region of the Antarctic sea-ice system for the first time. The Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) ...
Phys.org / Electrical 'knob' can switch light on, off and tune intensity at the nanoscale
Physicists from Emory University have led work to develop a microscopic, nonlinear light source that can be switched on, off or tuned to a particular intensity by an electrical "knob." The paper is published in the journal ...
Phys.org / Scientists unlock evolution of gigantism in Scottish island wrens
A new study of British wrens has provided new insights into the inner workings of "island syndromes," according to research led by the University of Birmingham. The paper, published in the Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean ...
Phys.org / 'Diversifying' social feeds can cut exposure to toxic content and preserve enjoyment
A new study from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago offers underlying evidence that the engagement-based algorithms used by major social media platforms amplify intergroup, moralized, emotional (IME) and ...
Phys.org / Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching, research reveals
Italians are famous for speaking with their hands. But a new international study suggests that when it comes to teaching children, adults everywhere instinctively become more expressive with their gestures—even in cultures ...
Phys.org / Global food shock model reveals self-sufficiency alone may not prevent crises
Global food systems are fragile. Recent shocks such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have raised prices and exacerbated food insecurity. Governments are increasingly trying to shield ...
Phys.org / Plants exhibit remarkable tolerance to protein translation errors
The precise synthesis of proteins is considered essential for cellular function. Now, a team led by LMU biologists Dr. Benjamin Brandt and Professor Hans-Henning Kunz has demonstrated for the first time that plants can cope ...
Phys.org / Think DEET keeps mosquitoes away? They may be learning to love it
Every summer, millions of people spray themselves with DEET to keep mosquitoes away. But new research suggests mosquitoes may be able to learn to associate the repellent with food—and even become attracted to it.