Phys.org news
Phys.org / Iron and blue LEDs synthesize natural molecules, cutting the need for expensive chiral components
Photocatalysts facilitate chemical reactions by absorbing light. Metal-based photocatalysts are widely used in organic synthesis due to their durability and the ability to tune their function by modifying the ligands attached ...
Phys.org / Viruses reveal shared way to kill bacteria by jamming small transporter MurJ
Biochemists at Caltech have identified how viruses have converged on a method for killing bacteria. The researchers have homed in on an underexplored small transporter called MurJ that is a vital part of the pathway bacteria ...
Phys.org / E-waste chemicals are appearing in dolphins and porpoises
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are critical components of laptop, television, and smartphone screens. Given their ubiquity in the environment, these compounds are considered persistent pollutants, posing threats to marine ...
Phys.org / Ocean warming drives a nearly 20% annual decline in fish biomass, research confirms
According to a new study by the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC) and the National University of Colombia, chronic ocean warming is driving a nearly 20% annual decline in fish biomass. However, the researchers ...
Phys.org / Heat relief means higher emissions: How air conditioning complicates 1.5°C goals
While air conditioning protects people from dangerous heat, it also significantly worsens global warming—by 2050, potentially producing more carbon dioxide than the current annual emissions of the United States, a new study ...
Phys.org / Celebrity dolphin of Venice doesn't need special protection—except from humans
Bottlenose dolphins usually live in small to medium-sized groups in coastal and open-sea waters, but every once in a while, a dolphin might leave its pod behind, flock to coastal areas and approach human settlements. While ...
Phys.org / Physicists develop new method to measure universe's expansion rate
We have known for several decades that the universe is expanding. Scientists use multiple techniques to measure the present-day expansion rate of the universe, known as the Hubble constant. These methods are internally consistent ...
Phys.org / Urine tests confirm alcohol consumption in wild African chimpanzees
Aleksey Maro knows far more than he cares to know about the urination habits of chimpanzees. But if you want to measure the alcohol intake of chimps in a Ugandan rain forest, where a breathalyzer is impractical, collecting ...
Phys.org / Major gap in Earth's rock record likely due to tectonics—not glaciers
The Great Unconformity is a major gap in Earth's geologic record. The missing layer between Precambrian and Cambrian rocks represents a gap of around a billion years of history. Among much debate surrounding the cause of ...
Phys.org / Thunderstorms conjure ghostly coronae in treetops, observed outdoors for the first time
For the first time, researchers have observed and measured weak electrical discharges, known as coronae, on trees during thunderstorms. A new study describes the near-invisible sparkles appearing similarly on branches of ...
Phys.org / Electrical control of magnetism in 2D materials promises to advance spintronics
Conventional electronics process information leveraging the electrical charge of electrons. Over the past few decades, some electronics engineers have been exploring the potential of a different type of device that instead ...
Phys.org / How AI can improve the quality of peer review
A new AI coach for scientists has been shown to significantly improve the quality of peer reviews, making them clearer and more helpful for authors. Peer review is essential to ensuring the integrity of scientific publications, ...