Phys.org news
Phys.org / Seychelles leads the way in the protection of sharks and rays, finds study
A new study published in Ecology and Evolution has evaluated the extent to which recently identified Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the Western Indian Ocean overlap with existing marine protected areas.
Phys.org / Twisted 2D materials get an ultraclean, scalable upgrade for future quantum devices
Exciting electronic characteristics emerge when scientists stack 2D materials on top of each other and give the top layer a little twist.
Phys.org / Woodland birds living among native trees produce more chicks, study shows
Native trees, such as oaks, have long held a special place in our culture and countryside. Now, researchers have shown that these trees are also important to woodland birds and their offspring.
Phys.org / Japan Trench geology confirmed as key driver of 2011 megaquake
Geologists from Heriot-Watt are part of an international research team that has confirmed why the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake off northeast Japan behaved in such an extreme and destructive way.
Phys.org / Calm seas can drive coral bleaching, research reveals
New research by Monash University and the ARC Center of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century analyzed close to three decades of weather data during the coral bleaching season and identified the prevalence of "doldrum ...
Phys.org / Vibrational spectroscopy technique enables nanoscale mapping of molecular orientation at surfaces
Sum-frequency generation (SFG) is a powerful vibrational spectroscopy that can selectively probe molecular structures at surfaces and interfaces, but its spatial resolution has been limited to the micrometer scale by the ...
Phys.org / Ecosystem productivity shapes how soil microbes store or release carbon, challenging old assumptions
Soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and vegetation combined, with soil microorganisms playing the main role. As a result, the global soil carbon cycle—by which carbon enters, moves through, and leaves soils worldwide—exerts ...
Phys.org / Deadly to amphibians, a fungal strain emerged in Brazil and spread around the world
The chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), or Bd for short, is considered one of the causes of the worldwide decline in amphibian populations. In recent years, researchers have identified different genetic strains ...
Phys.org / Beta-decay half-life measurements reveal evolution of nuclear shell structure
An international team of researchers has systematically measured the β-decay half-lives of 40 nuclei near calcium-54, providing key experimental data for understanding the structure of extremely neutron-rich nuclei.
Phys.org / How pointing errors impact quantum key distribution systems
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is an emerging communication technology that utilizes quantum mechanics principles to ensure highly secure communication between two parties. It enables the sender and receiver to generate a ...
Phys.org / Teen girls cannot escape unrealistic beauty ideals on social media, researchers say
Girls between the ages of 13 and 19 are widely exposed to beauty content online that promotes products unsuitable for young skin—even when they are not actively seeking beauty-related information. Moreover, they believe ...
Phys.org / Nanoscopic raft dynamics on cell membranes successfully visualized for first time
A collaborative team of four professors and several graduate students from the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemical Science and Technology at National Taiwan University, together with the Department of Applied Chemistry ...
