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phys.org

Wednesday, Mar 19

23

The unfamiliar face of a most familiar substance: Extraordinary activity of interfacial water on oil droplets

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The behavior of water at hydrophobic interfaces has perplexed scientists for over a century, spanning chemistry, biology, materials science, geology, and engineering. Recent discoveries—such as the anomalous chemistry of water…

Latest dark energy survey data suggest possible variations in dark energy over time

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A new study using the Dark Energy Survey (DES) final datasets suggests potential inconsistencies in the standard cosmological model, known as ΛCDM. If confirmed, these findings could fundamentally alter our understanding of the universe.

22

Unveiling bacteria's viral defense: Nine genes that could aid phage therapy

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University of Toronto researchers have discovered nine new genes used by bacteria to protect themselves against phages—viruses that infect them.

21

Lunar far side samples bolster theory that the moon was once covered in magma

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A team of geologists at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, the Institute of Space Sciences and the Shandong Institute of Geological Sciences, all in China, has found evidence in soil samples collected from the far side of the moon…

Scientists discover new inhibitors of inflammation-related enzyme

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Using computational tools and virtual screening, researchers at the Center for Redox Processes in Biomedicine (Redoxoma) have identified new inhibitors of the enzyme human 15-lipoxygenase-2 (h15-LOX-2). This protein plays an important role…

Making food from our organic waste may not be as good an idea as first thought

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Waste-to-nutrition technologies aim to transform residual organic waste (such as forestry and agricultural residues, manure, green residues and food waste) into ingredients for human or animal consumption. They are often presented as…

20

EPA regulations cut power sector emissions but miss opportunities for deeper reductions, analysis finds

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Regulations finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2024 could cut emissions from fossil fuel power generators but leave additional cost-effective emissions reductions on the table, according to new Princeton research.

How an organelle evolves in symbiosis with a cell: Intermediate stage sheds light on the assimilation process

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Organelles in cells were originally often independent cells, which were incorporated by host cells and lost their independence in the course of evolution. A team of biologists headed by Professor Dr. Eva Nowack at Heinrich Heine University…

World's first quantum microsatellite demonstrates secure communication with multiple ground stations

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A research team has developed the world's first quantum microsatellite and demonstrated real-time quantum key distribution (QKD) between the satellite and multiple compact, mobile ground stations.

19

Long-term Switzerland-wide study finds the layout of trees may impact human health

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Beyond creating a serene and open atmosphere in urban areas, trees and parks also contribute to human well-being. There are various reasons for this: trees filter pollutants out of the air, provide shade, lower the ambient temperature in…

'Molecular library' opens up new frontier of biological space-time

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In the search for solutions to diseases like cancer, scientists are pursuing a new frontier in biology—the spatial and temporal places where our cells live.

Experimental antifungal compound kills multidrug-resistant fungi

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The discovery of a new preclinical compound with strong antifungal activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens is described in Nature. The drug, named mandimycin, is a member of a known family of bacterial products with antifungal…

18

The changing sky that plants see: Numerical tool predicts sunlight patterns to improve agriculture

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Researchers from Kyushu University have developed a new numerical model to explain the behavior of sunlight under various weather conditions. Unlike previous methods that focused on how plants perceive sunlight as a pure source of energy,…

Cations found to be culprit behind degraded platinum electrodes

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Electrochemical devices like batteries and fuel cells help power our modern lives. These devices traditionally contain a liquid electrolyte sandwiched between solid electrodes, and can generate electricity through chemical reactions, or…

AI helps design Fe-based amorphous alloys for efficient high-power electronics

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Researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) to design a novel series of Fe-based amorphous alloys. These materials exhibit…

Unique cell shape keeps lymphatic vessels and plant leaves stable

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The cells that make up the walls of the finest of all lymphatic vessels have a lobate, oak leaf-like shape that makes them particularly resilient to changes in fluid volume. A similar cell shape also supports mechanical stability in plants…

Sea level rise after the last ice age revealed by new geological data

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New geological data has given more insight into the rate and magnitude of global sea level rise following the last ice age, about 11,700 years ago. This information is of great importance to understand the impact global warming has had on…

Good vibrations: Scientists discover a method for exciting phonon-polaritons

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Imagine a world where your phone stays cool no matter how long you use it, and it's also equipped with tiny sensors that can identify dangerous chemicals or pollutants with unparalleled sensitivity and precision.

Scientists see the first steps of DNA unwinding

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For the first time, scientists have witnessed the very moment DNA begins to unravel, revealing a necessary molecular event for DNA to be the molecule that codes all life. A new study from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology …

17

Laser scanning shows trees awaken to spring at their own pace—even within the same species in the same forest

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Climatic stress events, such as extreme temperatures and prolonged droughts, are increasingly affecting tree growth and phenology—the timing of developmental stages like leaf burst and senescence.

Quantum heat dynamics toggled by magnetic fields in semimetal ZrTe₅

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Scientists know well how conventional materials conduct heat. However, things are not as straightforward under extreme conditions such as temperatures close to absolute zero combined with strong magnetic fields, where strange quantum…

Unusual desert rocks suggest unknown microorganism that uses marble and limestone as a habitat

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In the desert areas of Namibia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, research work has revealed unusual structures that are probably due to the activity of an unknown microbiological life form. Unusually small burrows, i.e., tiny tubes that run through…

Novel porous material separates deuterium at elevated temperatures efficiently

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A novel porous material capable of separating deuterium (D2) from hydrogen (H2) at a temperature of 120 K (-153°C) has been introduced. Notably, this temperature exceeds the liquefaction point of natural gas, which is 111 K (-162°C), by…

Study highlights widespread health co-benefits from all-of-society clean energy actions in the US

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Transitioning to clean energy is not just about reducing carbon emissions—it's also about saving lives. According to a Princeton-led study, reducing emissions from American power plants, buildings, and vehicles not only mitigates climate…

Water stored in the mantle for millions of years may be linked to continental volcanism

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The mantle transition zone (MTZ), which occurs 410–670 kilometers below Earth's surface, may store several oceans' worth of water. This water, which is carried to such depths by subducting tectonic slabs, is stored in minerals like…

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy measures real-time chemical changes in molten salt

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Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a method that can track chemical changes in molten salt in real time—helping to pave the way for the deployment of molten salt reactors for energy production.

Dipeptides for carbon dioxide capture: Research reveals promising CO₂ sequestration mechanisms

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Associate Professor Konstantinos Vogiatzis' lab in the Department of Chemistry is leveraging computational chemistry to address excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The work is published in the journal ChemPhysChem.

Velvet worm slime: Reversible liquid-to-fiber transformation inspires sustainable materials

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A new discovery about the slime ejected by velvet worms could revolutionize sustainable material design, according to a study by McGill University researchers. Their findings outline how a naturally occurring protein structure, conserved…

Carbon nanotube wires for wearables can be crafted from existing fiber manufacturing process

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Dr. Han Joong Tark's team at KERI's Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center has successfully fabricated "functional wires," which are the foundation of wearable electronic devices, by directly applying the existing synthetic fiber…

16

Sand-sized fossils may hold secrets to the history of climate change

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Between 18,000 and 11,000 years ago, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere suddenly shot up. This caused rapid global warming, the mass melting of glaciers, and the end of the last ice age.