Phys.org news
Phys.org / Watching how molecules change shape in slow motion could inform future molecular machines
Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University, the Institute for Molecular Science and SOKENDAI have uncovered the hidden mechanism behind a molecular switch—a molecule that can change ...
Phys.org / Raptorial insect forelegs evolved repeatedly but never converged on one winning design
The evolutionary paths that created snatching forelimbs in insects multiple times moved in a similar direction but didn't end at a single solution. Kobe University research is pioneering a study of how organs with similar ...
Phys.org / Bulk ferromagnetic quasicrystals emerge without rapid quenching, unlocking stable magnetic studies
Ferromagnetism has long been studied in a wide range of periodic crystals and amorphous materials. In quasicrystals (QCs), which possess long-range quasiperiodic order and unconventional rotational symmetries, such as 10-fold ...
Phys.org / Bacteria discovered with the ability to jettison cells as a survival mechanism
Popular science fiction is no stranger to escape-pod scenarios, typically featuring characters who narrowly avoid their demise by jettisoning from a spaceship—think R2-D2 and C-3PO shooting away from a rebel spaceship in ...
Phys.org / EV-SELEX speeds GPCR drug discovery by capturing receptor-bound DNA aptamers
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most abundantly expressed proteins in the human body, regulating diverse physiological processes ranging from pain perception to hormone signaling. Owing to their central roles ...
Phys.org / New biobased polymers exhibit excellent tensile properties beyond polyolefins
The research group of Professor Kotohiro Nomura, Tokyo Metropolitan University, in cooperation with the research groups of Senior Researcher Hiroshi Hirano and Director Seiji Higashi of the Osaka Research Institute of Industrial ...
Phys.org / How proximity steals energy from nanoresonators
Nanomechanical resonators are miniature vibrating structures on chips that oscillate at frequencies ranging from a few kilohertz to gigahertz. They are used as ultrasensitive detectors of mass and force, temperature and pressure, ...
Phys.org / Cave finds reveal modern humans and Neanderthals may have shared long-term cultural continuity
Tens of thousands of years ago, Homo sapiens coexisted with Neanderthals, Homo neanderthalensis. Many of us living today carry a small amount of Neanderthal DNA, indicating that the two species may have shared much more than ...
Phys.org / Early parenting shapes the brain and socio-sexual behavior, rodent study shows
Past psychology studies have consistently highlighted the importance of social bonds for survival, showing that enduring relationships are linked with a longer life expectancy, a more resilient immune system, better cardiovascular ...
Phys.org / First synthetic protein motor moves along DNA in controlled, programmable steps
Researchers from UNSW Sydney have built the first artificial protein motor capable of taking controlled, directional steps along a DNA track. The protein, dubbed Tumbleweed, moves by alternating between three "feet" that ...
Phys.org / Ancient hobbit-like humans may have survived on meat left behind by Komodo dragons
Arguably one of the most curious ancient human relatives is Homo floresiensis, a 3-foot-tall species that lived on the Indonesian island of Flores and has been nicknamed "hobbit" for its diminutive stature. Even though they ...
Phys.org / Traces of Earth's primordial magma ocean discovered in lava from a modern volcanic eruption
In May 2018, the island of Mayotte, between Madagascar and Mozambique, began to experience a series of earthquakes that led to the discovery of an underwater volcano, now called Fani Maoré. Multiple scientific expeditions ...
