Phys.org news
Phys.org / Reconstructing food webs to reveal a dynamic Gulf of Maine
When most people think about corals, they imagine a tropical reef with crystal blue water, teeming with colorful fish. But, in the depths of the cold, murky Gulf of Maine, deep-sea corals thrive, feasting on a steady supply ...
Phys.org / Impressionist sea slugs create their patterns by arranging colorful photonic crystals
Nudibranchs are often referred to as the butterflies of the sea. Nudibranchs live worldwide, primarily in warm, shallow marine regions, and stand out for their flamboyant colors and diverse shapes. A team from the Max Planck ...
Phys.org / DNA analysis reveals two Hirondellea amphipods range farther and deeper than known
Two deep-sea amphipod species have been found to live in both hemispheres and share features, according to a new study that boosts our understanding of the biodiversity and evolutionary processes shaping deep-sea ecosystems. ...
Phys.org / Microbes make microplastics more likely to form ice in clouds, research reveals
Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, are showing up everywhere, even in the water in clouds, rain, and snow—and they may be affecting our weather and temperatures. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology ...
Phys.org / Chemo-optogenetic tool uses vitamin B₁₂ and green light to precisely regulate cell communication
Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed CarGAP, a chemo-optogenetic tool that uses vitamin B₁₂ and green light to precisely control gap junctions, the microscopic channels ...
Phys.org / Moss-associated nitrogen fixation helps sustain plant growth in warming permafrost ecosystems
Climate warming can increase plant growth in permafrost regions by lengthening the growing season, speeding up plant metabolic processes, and allowing deeper root penetration as permafrost thaws. However, the capacity for ...
Phys.org / Courting the competition: Some male fruit flies serenade each other rather than fight
Like the males of many animal species, male Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies, a commonly studied lab animal, are aggressive toward one another and even fight when competing for resources such as food and females. Researchers ...
Phys.org / Long-term road surveys reveal widespread declines in South African birds of prey
A comprehensive study has revealed substantial declines in many of South Africa's birds of prey (raptors) over the past 16 years, raising fresh concerns about the conservation status of several iconic and threatened species. ...
Phys.org / Sea creatures reveal the physics behind animal body shape diversity
Animals come in an extraordinary range of body shapes. A starfish looks nothing like an earthworm, a mouse, or a human. Yet even closely related species can appear radically different: corals, jellyfish, and sea anemones ...
Phys.org / Two new fungi species uncovered in Australian herbarium using DNA sequencing
Scientists at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Australia have described two new species of fungi, Peziza austroechinospora and Peziza meridionalis with the assistance of DNA sequencing, highlighting how modern science is revealing ...
Phys.org / How clonal raider ants update their friend-or-foe recognition
For ants, the ability to instantly distinguish nestmates from outsiders who might hijack the colony is crucial. Now, a new study shows that the system that ants use to determine who belongs in the colony is far more flexible ...
Phys.org / Cells in the mosquito's gut drive its appetite, research shows
Researchers have known for decades that female mosquitoes—the ones responsible for the itchy and irritating bites that can also transmit disease—lose their desire to bite humans for several days after feeding, as they ...
