Phys.org news
Phys.org / Sharks are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker
Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean's chemistry could put those weapons at risk.
Phys.org / X-ray four-wave mixing captures elusive electron interactions inside atoms and molecules
Scientists at the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL have realized a long-pursued experimental goal in physics: to show how electrons dance together. The technique, known as X-ray four-wave mixing, opens a new way to see ...
Phys.org / How actin wavefronts rescue T cell receptors from endocytosis
Every time our body encounters a new disease-causing agent, a crucial defense system called adaptive immunity comes into play. T cells, the top agents in this system, survey the internal environment of infected cells and ...
Phys.org / Biomass-derived furans offer sustainable alternative to petroleum in chemical production
A research project conducted by the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung shows how biomass can be used as a raw material for chemical products instead of petroleum. The scientists have published their findings in the ...
Phys.org / Sideways discovery rewrites the rules of antigen presentation
A new discovery about how cells communicate with each other in the body's immune system has revealed deeper insights for an international team of scientists into fundamental immune system function.
Phys.org / Cells use dual strategies to fine-tune inflammatory gene activation
Inflammation has to fight pathogens fast—but it can't get out of control. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now deciphered in more detail how the organism masters this balancing act. Their work ...
Phys.org / When tropical oceans were oxygen oases
Research reveals when and why ancient tropical seas transitioned from oxygen oases to marine dead zones, providing clues to the long-term evolution of oceanic environments.
Phys.org / Plant diversity shapes chemical communication in ecosystems
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and the University of Kiel have provided experimental evidence showing that reducing plant species diversity alters plant chemical signals across whole communities ...
Phys.org / Exploring mutations that spontaneously switch on a key brain cell receptor
Many people are familiar with histamine, a biological molecule that serves as a key driver of allergic reactions and other immune responses. However, histamine is also a major neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, regulating ...
Phys.org / Wormholes may not exist—we've found they reveal something deeper about time and the universe
Wormholes are often imagined as tunnels through space or time—shortcuts across the universe. But this image rests on a misunderstanding of work by physicists Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen.
Phys.org / Construction emissions are higher than thought—but the solution isn't building less, new study finds
Many cities are making great strides in the fight against climate change, such as improving building energy efficiency, reducing traffic congestion and switching to renewable power sources. But there is another often overlooked ...
Phys.org / Collapse of the Tang dynasty: Climate change likely played a role
Environmental phenomena and their consequences can disrupt social structures and destabilize political systems. An interdisciplinary research team demonstrated this using the example of the late Tang dynasty in medieval China.