Phys.org news
Phys.org / Less, but more: A new evolutionary scenario marked by massive gene loss and expansion
Evolution is traditionally associated with a process of increasing complexity and gaining new genes. However, the explosion of the genomic era shows that gene loss and simplification is a much more frequent process in the ...
Phys.org / Biochemists discover self-repair function in key photosynthetic protein complex
Cyanobacteria began contributing oxygen to Earth's mostly noxious atmosphere more than 2 billion years ago. The photosystem II protein complex now shared by various lineages of cyanobacteria, algae and land plants has served ...
Phys.org / Class emerges as a key factor in who gets sent to prison
The incarceration rate of Black Americans has fallen sharply in the 21st century, according to a new study, but the trend has coincided with a rise in imprisonment of white Americans with no college education.
Phys.org / World may have entered era of 1.5C warming, scientists say
Last year's record-breaking temperatures could be a sign that the world is entering a new era above 1.5C of global warming, scientists say, one never before faced by modern humans.
Phys.org / Qubits to qudits: Using quantum mechanics to transmit information more securely
In the realm of quantum information distribution, sending a signal from point A to point B is like a baseball pitcher relaying a secret pitch call to the catcher. The pitcher has to disguise the signal from the opposing team ...
Phys.org / Chromatin fiber's genomic 'memory' governs the building blocks of life, study reveals
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered new details about how the human genome produces instructions for creating proteins and cells, the building blocks of life, according to a pioneering new study published in ...
Phys.org / Scientists spot candidate for speediest exoplanet system
Astronomers may have discovered a scrawny star bolting through the middle of our galaxy with a planet in tow. If confirmed, the pair sets a new record for the fastest-moving exoplanet system, nearly double our solar system's ...
Phys.org / Massive stellar feedback influences star formation, finds study of W4 super-large HII region
A new study has unveiled new insights into the effects of massive stars on nearby molecular gas and star formation in the W4 super-large HII region.
Phys.org / Investors more likely to opt for green labels over financial returns, fueling greenwashing concerns
Over the past decade, sustainable investing has exponentially grown in its global impact and popularity. This emerging trend led University of Waterloo researchers to investigate how green labels influence investment decisions. ...
Phys.org / Boosting evolution: How humans unintentionally altered the skulls of pigs
Short snouts and a flat profile—within a span of 100 years, humans have significantly changed the shape of the skulls of German domestic pigs. According to a team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), this ...
Phys.org / Nanotech reveals how harmful microplastics stick to coral reefs
University of Waterloo researchers have pinpointed for the first time how microplastics accumulate in coral reefs, a key step to understanding how to protect vulnerable ecosystems.
Phys.org / Theoretical analysis broadens the search for topological superconductivity
Exotic superconducting states could exist in a wider range of materials than previously thought, according to a theoretical study by two RIKEN researchers published in Physical Review B.