Phys.org news
Phys.org / Speed 'training' prepares bacteria for complex tasks, like munching plastics
Millions of tons of plastic waste accumulate in landfills and oceans every year. One promising response is to engineer microbes to break the plastic down into useful chemical building blocks. However, teaching a bacterium ...
Phys.org / Chromatin tracking reveals two motion modes that help control gene expression
Gene expression is controlled, in part, by the interactions between genes and regulatory elements located along the genome. Those interactions depend on the ability of chromatin—a mix of DNA and proteins—to move around within ...
Phys.org / A simple filter swap could advance marine eDNA biomonitoring
Researchers at Aarhus University have demonstrated that a simple adjustment to water filtration methods can dramatically improve the detection of marine animal DNA when using advanced, PCR-free sequencing. This methodological ...
Phys.org / This 'living plastic' activates and self-destructs on command
Many plastic products are designed to be used only once, yet the material itself lasts for years. But a new strategy is addressing this problem by creating products that self-destruct on command, known as living plastics. ...
Phys.org / How a newly discovered organelle could help reduce cow methane emissions
When cows burp, they send a substantial amount of methane gas into the air, which makes them a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. According to research published in the journal Science, a newly discovered hydrogen-producing ...
Phys.org / Rising temperatures could be driving up antibiotic resistance in soil, 11-year study finds
Every year, millions suffer, and thousands lose their lives to infections that were once easily treatable with the right dose of medication. The drugs are the same; human physiology is the same; the only difference is that ...
Phys.org / Deadly droughts and floods wipe out young California salmon en route to Pacific
Salmon are becoming river "ghosts" as brutal droughts and violent floods cause unprecedented losses on their treacherous journey to the Pacific Ocean, scientists say. A study led by the University of Essex; NOAA Fisheries; ...
Phys.org / New imaging method maps reversed DNA replication forks in single cells
Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a new imaging method, known as RF-SIRF, that quantitatively detects and maps reversed DNA replication forks with single-cell resolution. The ...
Phys.org / A bright moon may dim the Eta Aquarid meteor shower made up of Halley's comet debris
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower soon will light the sky with debris from Halley's comet. But a bright moon will spoil the fun this year, making the display harder to glimpse.
Phys.org / Gold digging is not exclusive to women: New study uncovers common attributes
Gold digging is often seen as a female behavior focused on exploiting wealthier partners for material gain, but science suggests this stereotype may be too narrow. Past studies have shown both men and women value resources ...
Phys.org / Bees can detect viruses in food sources, but don't necessarily avoid them
The ability to detect viruses and other harmful pathogens is highly advantageous for animals, as it can guide their behavior and prevent them from illness, and—in severe cases—death. When it comes to species that live in ...
Phys.org / Flooded fields across Midwest spur push for farm-tested solutions
Larry Dallas's farm in Central Illinois's Douglas County is as flat as it gets. That's a good thing for planting straight rows and maneuvering farm equipment in the field, but there's a major downside, too. "Heavier rain ...
