Phys.org news
Phys.org / How early cell membranes may have shaped the origins of life
Modern cells are complex chemical entities with cytoskeletons, finely regulated internal and external molecules, and genetic material that determines nearly every aspect of their functioning. This complexity allows cells ...
Phys.org / Solar flares triggered by cascading magnetic avalanches, new observations reveal
Just as avalanches on snowy mountains start with the movement of a small quantity of snow, the ESA-led Solar Orbiter spacecraft has discovered that a solar flare is triggered by initially weak disturbances that quickly become ...
Phys.org / Looking deep into the eyes of insects
Researchers from the University of Konstanz have studied how insect brains take in complex light stimuli and process them in parallel. They are the first to have found evidence that information is processed in different layers ...
Phys.org / Rare Florida scrub millipedes reproduce in captivity for the first time
Before scientists even knew how many Florida scrub millipedes were left in the wild, a quiet breakthrough happened in a University of South Florida lab. The rare, giant millipedes reproduced in captivity.
Phys.org / New cryogenic vacuum chamber cuts noise for quantum ion trapping
Even very slight environmental noise, such as microscopic vibrations or magnetic field fluctuations a hundred times smaller than Earth's magnetic field, can be catastrophic for quantum computing experiments with trapped ions.
Phys.org / Sculpting complex 3D nanostructures with a focused ion beam
Scientists from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and colleagues have developed a new way to fabricate three-dimensional nanoscale devices from single-crystal materials using a focused ion beam instrument. The ...
Phys.org / Strategic sex: Alaska's beluga whales swap mates for long-term survival
In the icy waters of Alaska's Bristol Bay, a new study reveals how a small population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) survive the long haul through a surprising strategy: they mate with multiple partners over several ...
Phys.org / Vast cluster of ancient galaxies could rewrite the history of star formation
Astronomers have discovered a vast, dense cluster of massive galaxies just 1 billion years after the Big Bang, each forming stars at an intense rate from collapsing clouds of dust. Reported in Astronomy & Astrophysics by ...
Phys.org / Full value added tax on meat: A first step towards pricing the environmental damages caused by diets
A study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Nature Food analyzes the ecological "footprint" from diets—and policy options to counteract through price signals. EU-wide, 23% of greenhouse gas emissions ...
Phys.org / It started with a cat: How 100 years of quantum weirdness powers today's tech
A hundred years ago, quantum mechanics was a radical theory that baffled even the brightest minds. Today, it's the backbone of technologies that shape our lives, from lasers and microchips to quantum computers and secure ...
Phys.org / Hubble tension: Primordial magnetic fields could resolve one of cosmology's biggest questions
A Simon Fraser University cosmologist believes his team's new research may bring them a step closer to cracking one of science's biggest questions—the Hubble tension.
Phys.org / Complex building blocks of life form spontaneously in space, research reveals
Challenging long-held assumptions, Aarhus University researchers have demonstrated that the protein building blocks essential for life as we know it can form readily in space. This discovery, appearing in Nature Astronomy, ...