Phys.org news
Phys.org / Machine learning predicts forest soil fungal diversity from drone images
Combining drone data and machine learning can help cover more ground in monitoring forest soil health, University of Alberta research shows. The findings are published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management. Using both ...
Phys.org / Traditional plastic forks shed harmful microplastics. Plastic created from sugar is an alternative
At a Massachusetts lab, pebble-sized pellets are transformed into forks and films that won't leave persistent microplastics in the environment.
Dialog / Quantum heat circuits learn electronics' oldest trick: Sharing a power supply
Every electronic and optoelectronic device generates heat, and today that heat is managed almost entirely from the outside. Heatsinks, fans, cold plates and refrigerators are bulky exterior measures bolted onto a chip or ...
Phys.org / Oak leaves harbor distinct microbial worlds on their opposite surfaces
A single leaf may look like a simple patch of green, but to the microscopic life that inhabits it, it is a vast landscape divided into different worlds.
Phys.org / DNA repair enzymes favor specific sequences, shaping mutation patterns in the human genome
When a wound does not heal properly, it leaves a scar. Similarly, mutations—which are permanent changes to genetic code—are often the result of damaged DNA that has not been properly repaired. Mutations can impede the function ...
Phys.org / Illegal fishing captures up to 15% of global marine wild catch, analysis finds
Industrial-scale illegal fishing continues to undermine ocean sustainability, coastal livelihoods and global seafood markets—despite decades of regulation and recent advances in surveillance technology, according to new University ...
Phys.org / MRI study shows dogs can distinguish between human fear and sadness
Scientists—and dog lovers—have long known that dogs are remarkably good at interpreting our laughs, frowns and tears. But the biology behind this ability has remained largely unexplored until now. In a study published in ...
Phys.org / 'Lying mirror' uses structured surfaces to conceal optical information
Mirrors normally reveal what is placed in front of them, even when their curvature distorts a reflection. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have introduced a different optical concept: a "lying ...
Phys.org / Engineered enzymes forge carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bonds with high selectivity
Researchers from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, including Dr. Zachary Birch-Price and professor Anthony Green, have developed a new family of engineered enzymes that can create several different types of chemical ...
Phys.org / Water quality, not just scarcity, may shape future competition for a limited resource
Climate change is largely to blame for water scarcity. The low water levels in European rivers this summer speak volumes in that respect.
Phys.org / New species of mountain horned dragon identified in Thailand's high-altitude forests
Scientists have described a new species of lizard from the high mountain forests of western Thailand and have given it a name straight out of an American fantasy drama television series: Acanthosaura syrax, named after Syrax, ...
Phys.org / Uncovering how Cryptococcus shifts from silent infection to killer fungus
For most healthy people, Cryptococcus is an unnoticed infection. The immune system walls it off in the lungs and keeps it dormant for life. But in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy, recovering from an organ transplant, ...
