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NASA cameras to capture interaction between Blue Ghost lander, moon's surface

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-nasa-cameras-capture-interaction-blue.html

Published: December 21, 2024 15:10

Say cheese again, moon. We're coming in for another close-up.

'You can't hear a smile': How video visits help dads in prison stay connected with their kids

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-video-dads-prison-stay-kids.html

Published: December 21, 2024 13:10

Many Australians know December 21 as "Gravy Day." This is a reference to Paul Kelly's song and new film How to Make Gravy, where a prisoner named Joe writes a letter to his family four days before Christmas. In it Joe, missing his wife and relatives, asks,…

The moon might be older than scientists previously thought; a new study shines light on its history

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-moon-older-scientists-previously-thought.html

Published: December 21, 2024 13:10

A physicist, a chemist and a mathematician walk into a bar. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but in my case, it was the start of an idea that could reshape how scientists think about the history of the moon.

Two stars may be orbiting each other near a supermassive black hole in our Milky Way galaxy

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-stars-orbiting-supermassive-black-hole.html

Published: December 21, 2024 12:30

Scientists have spotted what appear to be two stars whipping around each other near the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

How can I keep my cat happy? Five tips from a vet to help your feline friend live their best life

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-cat-happy-vet-feline-friend.html

Published: December 21, 2024 12:10

Around one third of Australian households live with at least one cat, yet surveys tell us the cats' needs are not being met.

Bottlenose dolphins smile at each other when they play—new study reveals how and why

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-bottlenose-dolphins-play-reveals.html

Published: December 21, 2024 11:50

Dolphins have an irresistible charm for people. They are extremely playful at all ages and often play alone, surfing the waves, leaping into the air, performing flips and striking the water with their tail flukes.

The genomic journey of modern and archaic humans may be older than we thought

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-genomic-journey-modern-archaic-humans.html

Published: December 21, 2024 10:00

Research conducted at the Department of Biology, University of Padova, has identified critical genomic milestones in the evolution of Homo sapiens, including key chromosomal rearrangements and specific gene variants that contributed to the development of…

Introducing perceptein, a protein-based artificial neural network in living cells

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-perceptein-protein-based-artificial-neural.html

Published: December 21, 2024 09:40

Westlake University in China and the California Institute of Technology have designed a protein-based system inside living cells that can process multiple signals and make decisions based on them.

Saturday Citations: Chicxulub meteorite found guilty; Good news and bad news for LLMs

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-saturday-citations-chicxulub-meteorite-guilty.html

Published: December 21, 2024 09:00

It's the last week before Christmas and not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse model bred to exhibit characteristics of ADHD for in vivo studies of central nervous system stimulants. This week, we reported on the discovery of the world's oldest-known…

Archaeological study documents rare Christian tattoo in medieval Nubia

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-archaeological-documents-rare-christian-tattoo.html

Published: December 21, 2024 07:50

Recently, a team of researchers published their study on a medieval Nubian tattoo in Antiquity. The researchers conducted a post-excavation analysis on individuals who had been interred at the Ghazali Monastery Cemetery (Sudan). One of these individuals…

Scientists observe 'negative time' in quantum experiments

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-scientists-negative-quantum.html

Published: December 21, 2024 07:23

Scientists have long known that light can sometimes appear to exit a material before entering it—an effect dismissed as an illusion caused by how waves are distorted by matter.

Lab work digs into gullies seen on giant asteroid Vesta by NASA's Dawn

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-lab-gullies-giant-asteroid-vesta.html

Published: December 21, 2024 05:30

Pocked with craters, the surfaces of many celestial bodies in our solar system provide clear evidence of a 4.6-billion-year battering by meteoroids and other space debris. But on some worlds, including the giant asteroid Vesta that NASA's Dawn mission…

Researchers take 'significant leap forward' with quantum simulation of molecular electron transfer

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-significant-quantum-simulation-molecular-electron.html

Published: December 20, 2024 16:22

Researchers at Rice University have made a meaningful advance in the simulation of molecular electron transfer—a fundamental process underpinning countless physical, chemical and biological processes. The study, published in Science Advances, details the…

'Living' ceramics utilize bacteria for gas sensing and carbon capture

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-ceramics-bacteria-gas-carbon-capture.html

Published: December 20, 2024 15:10

A team of materials scientists and chemists at ETH Zürich has developed a way to make "living" ceramics that can detect small amounts of formaldehyde and capture carbon dioxide from the air. In their project, reported in the journal Advanced Materials, the…

Neutrality has played a pivotal, but under-examined, role in international relations, new research shows

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-neutrality-played-pivotal-role-international.html

Published: December 20, 2024 14:29

Researchers have developed a new way of understanding international relations by analyzing almost 200 years of alliances, hostilities and neutrality between countries.

Inequality weakens local governance and public satisfaction, study finds

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-inequality-weakens-local-satisfaction.html

Published: December 20, 2024 14:23

Local governments in developing countries are crucial for providing public services that promote human development and address challenges like extreme weather, unemployment and crumbling infrastructure. Yet, they often face difficulties in implementing…

Discovery of enzyme pathway may lead to lifesaving leishmaniasis treatments

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-discovery-enzyme-pathway-lifesaving-leishmaniasis.html

Published: December 20, 2024 14:21

A breakthrough in understanding how a single-cell parasite makes ergosterol (its version of cholesterol) could lead to more effective drugs for human leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that afflicts about 1 million people and kills about 30,000 people…

Advanced algorithm reduces errors in land cover classification for landslide analysis

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-advanced-algorithm-errors-classification-landslide.html

Published: December 20, 2024 14:08

Land use and land cover (LULC) analysis has become increasingly significant in environmental studies due to its direct impact on the environment. Changes in LULC affect the ecological and climatic balance, in addition to increasing the terrain's…

Wireless antennas harness light to decode cellular communication signals

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-wireless-antennas-harness-decode-cellular.html

Published: December 20, 2024 14:00

Monitoring electrical signals in biological systems helps scientists understand how cells communicate, which can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like arrhythmia and Alzheimer's.

Study reveals right whales live 130 years—or more

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-reveals-whales-years.html

Published: December 20, 2024 14:00

New research published in Science Advances reveals that right whales can survive for more than 130 years—almost twice as long as previously understood.

Structural analysis reveals how human eyelashes promote water drainage

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-analysis-reveals-human-eyelashes-drainage.html

Published: December 20, 2024 14:00

Throughout human evolution, body and facial hair have notably diminished, yet eyelashes have remained a distinguishing feature. The physiological or functional purpose of eyelashes—traditionally thought to be for catching dust or filtering air—has long…

Heterogeneous host populations drive evolution of more virulent pathogens, modeling study shows

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-heterogeneous-host-populations-evolution-virulent.html

Published: December 20, 2024 13:37

The evolution of pathogens has received attention in a wide range of scientific fields, such as epidemiology, demography, and evolutionary ecology. Understanding pathogen evolution is particularly urgent for rapidly evolving pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2,…

Advancing light control: New opportunities for metasurfaces in optoelectronics

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-advancing-opportunities-metasurfaces-optoelectronics.html

Published: December 20, 2024 13:20

A global review of advancements in integrating metasurfaces—thin planar arrays of nanostructures—into optoelectronic devices highlights their potential to transform technologies such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, optical modulators, and…

New electron microscopy technique reveals complex spin structures at femtosecond timescales

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-electron-microscopy-technique-reveals-complex.html

Published: December 20, 2024 13:09

Plasmons are collective oscillations of electrons in a solid and are important for a wide range of applications, such as sensing, catalysis, and light harvesting. Plasmonic waves that travel along the surface of a metal, called surface plasmon polaritons,…

Report analyzes long history of NASA support for commercial space

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-history-nasa-commercial-space.html

Published: December 20, 2024 13:01

NASA published a new report on Thursday highlighting 17 agency mechanisms that have directly and indirectly supported the development and growth of the U.S. commercial space sector for the benefit of humanity.

Cyanobacteria research unlocks potential for renewable plastics from carbon dioxide

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-cyanobacteria-potential-renewable-plastics-carbon.html

Published: December 20, 2024 13:00

Scientists at The University of Manchester have achieved a significant breakthrough in using cyanobacteria—commonly known as "blue-green algae"—to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable bio-based materials.

Systemic solutions needed to counter spread of science misinformation, says new report

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-solutions-counter-science-misinformation.html

Published: December 20, 2024 12:57

Misinformation about science harms personal decisions, democracy and public policy, says Northeastern University professor David Lazer, who contributed to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report released Thursday.

Avalanches, icy explosions and dunes: NASA is tracking New Year on Mars

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-avalanches-icy-explosions-dunes-nasa.html

Published: December 20, 2024 12:48

Instead of a winter wonderland, the Red Planet's northern hemisphere goes through an active—even explosive—spring thaw. While New Year's Eve is around the corner here on Earth, Mars scientists are ahead of the game: The Red Planet completed a trip around…

Professor challenges tokenizing women of color in academia

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-professor-tokenizing-women-academia.html

Published: December 20, 2024 12:42

The unspoken rule for women of color in academia is to be everything to everyone—mentor, diversity champion, tireless scholar, and silent workhorse, says York University equity studies Assistant Professor Yvonne Su in her paper published in Nature Human…

Digital labels can help grocers waste less food

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-digital-grocers-food.html

Published: December 20, 2024 12:39

In 2022, U.S. grocers wasted 5 million tons of food, with 35% of it going to landfills, according to the food waste nonprofit ReFed. More than half of that waste—2.7 million tons—was past the labels' expiration dates.

Biosensors mimic human olfactory system to discriminate between very similar odors

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-biosensors-mimic-human-olfactory-discriminate.html

Published: December 20, 2024 12:31

The human olfactory system discriminates between thousands of odors by interacting specifically with olfactory receptors on sensory neurons. Each receptor can detect several odorants at different intensities, and the same odorant can activate more than one…

Mitigating animal-vehicle collisions with field sensors, AI and ecological modeling

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-mitigating-animal-vehicle-collisions-field.html

Published: December 20, 2024 12:17

Collisions between animals and vehicles are a threat to conservation efforts and human safety, and have a massive cost for transport infrastructure managers and users.

Volunteers should not become friends with patients, say Norwegian researchers

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-volunteers-friends-patients-norwegian.html

Published: December 20, 2024 12:00

When a volunteer supports a patient, a special and often rather unequal relationship can develop between the helper and the person receiving the help. Researchers have now investigated this relationship and offer guidance on finding the right balance.

The secret life of ALAS1: Basic science discovery could the pave way for better small interfering RNA therapies

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-secret-life-alas1-basic-science.html

Published: December 20, 2024 11:56

In everyday life, when things turn out the opposite of what you expect, it's usually a cause for frustration. In science, it's often the starting point for discovery.

Ferns' ancient resilience aids modern ecosystem recovery after disasters

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-ferns-ancient-resilience-aids-modern.html

Published: December 20, 2024 11:45

Scientists have suggested an updated framework for the role of ferns in environmental recovery from disaster. Instead of competing with other organisms, ferns may act as facilitators that ease the way for other plants and animals to re-establish themselves…

Water and gruel—not bread: Discovering the diet of early Neolithic farmers in Scandinavia

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-gruel-bread-diet-early-neolithic.html

Published: December 20, 2024 11:35

At a Neolithic settlement on the Danish island Funen dating back 5,500 years, archaeologists have discovered both grinding stones and grains from early cereals. However, new research reveals that the inhabitants did not use the stones to grind the cereal…

Quantum walk computing unlocks new potential in quantum science and technology

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-quantum-potential-science-technology.html

Published: December 20, 2024 11:30

Quantum walks are a powerful theoretical model using quantum effects such as superposition, interference and entanglement to achieve computing power beyond classical methods.

Programming cells: New RNA tool enhances precision in synthetic genetic circuits

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-cells-rna-tool-precision-synthetic.html

Published: December 20, 2024 11:10

Researchers have successfully developed a modular synthetic translational coupling element (SynTCE), significantly enhancing the precision and integration density of genetic circuits in synthetic biology. Their study was recently published in the journal…

Team presents first demonstration of quantum teleportation over busy internet cables

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-team-quantum-teleportation-busy-internet.html

Published: December 20, 2024 11:00

Northwestern University engineers are the first to successfully demonstrate quantum teleportation over a fiberoptic cable already carrying internet traffic.

The technosphere: A hidden long-term carbon sink in everyday items

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-technosphere-hidden-term-carbon-everyday.html

Published: December 20, 2024 11:00

We know a lot about how much fossil-derived carbon is emitted to the atmosphere but less about how much is stored in human-made products.

Dark energy 'doesn't exist' so can't be pushing 'lumpy' universe apart, physicists say

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-dark-energy-doesnt-lumpy-universe.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:59

One of the biggest mysteries in science—dark energy—doesn't actually exist, according to researchers looking to solve the riddle of how the universe is expanding.

Dripstones from Romanian cave offer insights into climate dynamics in Europe

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-dripstones-romanian-cave-insights-climate.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:59

Investigations into precipitation patterns in eastern Central Europe since the end of the last ice age, conducted by an international research team led by Dr. Sophie Warken of Heidelberg University, have shown that dynamic processes in atmospheric…

The microbiology of honey: A sweet symphony of life

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-microbiology-honey-sweet-symphony-life.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:59

Honey, a complex substance made by a variety of species of bees, is often celebrated for its sweetness and health benefits. In fact, humans have been using honey, sometimes called liquid gold, for generations to soothe cold symptoms and promote wound…

Scientists steer the development of stem cells to regenerate and repair organs

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-scientists-stem-cells-regenerate.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:59

Investigators from Cedars-Sinai and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have identified a new way to deliver instructions that tell stem cells to grow into specific bodily structures, a critical step in eventually regenerating and repairing…

First results from 2021 rocket launch shed light on aurora's birth

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-results-rocket-aurora-birth.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:59

Results from a 2021 experiment led by a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist have begun to reveal the particle-level processes that create the type of auroras that dance rapidly across the sky.

Global study reveals phenological divergence between plants and animals under climate change

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-global-reveals-phenological-divergence-animals.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:58

A collaborative study reveals the distinct mechanisms by which plants and animals respond to climate change in their life-cycle phenology. This research, led by Piao Shilong's team and Zhang Yao's team from the Institute of Carbon Neutrality at Peking…

Genetically encoded biosensors measure living cells' charge in real time

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-genetically-encoded-biosensors-cells-real.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:55

Biological cells have many vital functions in the organism. For example, they produce proteins, carbohydrates and fats. But they are also responsible for detoxifying harmful molecules and transmitting signals and immune defense steps. A so-called redox…

Intense ribbons of rain also bring the heat, scientists say

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-intense-ribbons-scientists.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:49

The environmental threat posed by atmospheric rivers—long, narrow ribbons of water vapor in the sky—doesn't come only in the form of concentrated, torrential downpours and severe flooding characteristic of these natural phenomena. According to a new Yale…

Warming exacerbates oxygen depletion in the Baltic Sea, undermining nutrient reduction efforts

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-exacerbates-oxygen-depletion-baltic-sea.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:47

Eutrophication and rising water temperatures are taking an increasing toll on the Baltic Sea, leading to dangerous oxygen depletion in deeper water layers and threatening many marine organisms. Despite successful efforts to reduce nutrient inputs, rising…

Grapevine protein resembles animal ion transport function, researchers discover

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-grapevine-protein-resembles-animal-ion.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:44

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered that a protein which mediates the transport of alkali metal ions, such as potassium, and halide ions across plant membranes acts similarly to a protein found in animals.

The science behind Christmas trees: How conifers brave winter's worst

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-science-christmas-trees-conifers-brave.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:40

As the festive season approaches, evergreen conifers like spruce and pine adorn homes worldwide. But while Christmas trees bring warmth and joy into our lives, they endure some of the harshest conditions on Earth in their natural habitats.

Neural networks unlock potential of high-entropy carbonitrides in extreme environments

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-neural-networks-potential-high-entropy.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:33

The melting point is one of the most important measurements of material properties, which informs potential applications of materials in various fields. Experimental measurement of the melting point is complex and expensive, but computational methods could…

AI-driven approach reveals hidden hazards of chemical mixtures in rivers

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-ai-driven-approach-reveals-hidden.html

Published: December 20, 2024 10:00

Artificial intelligence can provide critical insights into how complex mixtures of chemicals in rivers affect aquatic life—paving the way for better environmental protection.

Shedding light on snow's crucial role in Earth's climate system

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-crucial-role-earth-climate.html

Published: December 20, 2024 09:54

EU researchers are braving extreme Arctic conditions to shed light on snow's crucial role in Earth's climate system.

Growing safer spuds: Removing toxins from potatoes

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-safer-spuds-toxins-potatoes.html

Published: December 20, 2024 09:50

Scientists have discovered a way to remove toxic compounds from potatoes, making them safer to eat and easier to store. The breakthrough could cut food waste and enhance crop farming in space and other extreme environments.

Dual-comb method achieves first precise absolute distance measurement over 100 km

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-dual-method-precise-absolute-distance.html

Published: December 20, 2024 09:50

A team of physicists and engineers at China's Hefei National Laboratory has succeeded in conducting the first instance of precise absolute distance measurement over a path exceeding 100 km. The group has written a paper describing how they achieved such a…

Sea snakes regain advanced color vision, recovering a complex trait once lost to evolutionary time

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-sea-snakes-regain-advanced-vision.html

Published: December 20, 2024 09:43

Nine species of sea snakes have now been identified as having regained the genetic requirements for advanced color vision, demonstrating that once a complex trait has been lost to evolutionary time, it may be regained in some way.

Latest gravitational wave observations conflict with expectations from stellar models

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-latest-gravitational-conflict-stellar.html

Published: December 20, 2024 09:40

Almost 300 binary mergers have been detected so far, indicated by their passing gravitational waves. These measurements from the world's gravitational wave observatories put constraints on the masses and spins of the merging objects such as black holes and…

Simulations of hominin Lucy help show how long distance running evolved in modern humans

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-simulations-hominin-lucy-distance-evolved.html

Published: December 20, 2024 09:38

A team of natural scientists, musculoskeletal specialists, and evolutionary biologists affiliated with several institutions in the U.K., working with a colleague from the Netherlands, has found via simulations, that the famous early hominin Lucy, could run…

Gateway: Wired for deep space

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-gateway-wired-deep-space.html

Published: December 20, 2024 09:07

A maze of cables and sensors snakes through a major piece of Gateway, humanity's first space station around the moon, during a key testing phase earlier this year to ensure the lunar-orbiting science lab can withstand the harsh conditions of deep space.

ESA and NASA satellites deliver first joint picture of Greenland Ice Sheet melting

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-esa-nasa-satellites-joint-picture.html

Published: December 20, 2024 09:00

Academics from Northumbria University are part of an international research team which has used data from satellites to track changes in the thickness of the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Miniature sensor that detects toxic gas shows promising results in the lab

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-miniature-sensor-toxic-gas-results.html

Published: December 20, 2024 08:52

A team of scientists at UNSW Sydney have developed a highly sensitive miniature sensor that is able to detect low levels of the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The tiny, flexible sensor can detect the harmful gas in real-time without requiring an…

Chang'e-6 farside basalts reveal a reinforced lunar dynamo

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-farside-basalts-reveal-lunar-dynamo.html

Published: December 20, 2024 08:45

The evolution of the lunar dynamo is crucial for understanding the moon's deep interior structure, thermal history, and surface environment. A study by Chinese scientists conducted paleomagnetic analyses on basalts returned by the Chang'e-6 mission and…

EPA investigating taconite mine for pollution that threatens wild rice

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-epa-taconite-pollution-threatens-wild.html

Published: December 20, 2024 08:40

In a novel attempt to enforce a longstanding Minnesota rule protecting wild rice, the EPA is investigating U.S. Steel's taconite mine, Keetac, for repeatedly releasing a rice-killing pollutant into surface waters.

Report identifies UK regions with largest disability employment gap

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-uk-regions-largest-disability-employment.html

Published: December 20, 2024 08:15

The five areas in Great Britain where disabled people are least likely to be in employment compared with non-disabled people have been revealed in a new report from the University of Sheffield.

Active particles reorganize 3D gels into denser porous structures, study shows

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-particles-3d-gels-denser-porous.html

Published: December 20, 2024 07:20

Colloidal gels are complex systems made up of microscopic particles dispersed in a liquid, ultimately producing a semi-solid network. These materials have unique and advantageous properties that can be tuned using external forces, which have been the focus…

Compact on-chip polarimeter measures light polarization with high accuracy

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-compact-chip-polarimeter-polarization-high.html

Published: December 20, 2024 07:20

Reliably measuring the polarization state of light is crucial for various technological applications, ranging from optical communication to biomedical imaging. Yet conventional polarimeters are made of bulky components, which makes them difficult to reduce…

Rare species found 'thriving' in streams after rescue from wildfires

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-rare-species-streams-wildfires.html

Published: December 20, 2024 06:35

Years after a wildfire threatened to wipe out a rare, genetically unique species in a tiny Colorado creek, it was found "thriving" in new streams, officials said.

Your black plastic kitchen utensils aren't so toxic after all: But you should still toss them, group says

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-black-plastic-kitchen-utensils-toxic.html

Published: December 20, 2024 06:34

A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using…

Russia-Ukraine War's unexpected casualties: Hungry people in distant nations

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-russia-ukraine-war-unexpected-casualties.html

Published: December 20, 2024 05:00

The war in Ukraine is causing hunger thousands of miles from the battlefields, according to a study in Communications Earth & Environment. Nearly three years of war in the "breadbasket of the world" has left croplands destroyed and forced laborers who…

Giant sloths and mastodons coexisted with humans for millennia in Americas, new discoveries suggest

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-giant-sloths-mastodons-coexisted-humans.html

Published: December 20, 2024 04:27

Sloths weren't always slow-moving, furry tree-dwellers. Their prehistoric ancestors were huge—up to 4 tons (3.6 metric tons)—and when startled, they brandished immense claws.

LA Zoo hatches first-ever perentie lizards, one of largest lizard species in the world

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-la-zoo-hatches-perentie-lizards.html

Published: December 20, 2024 04:10

Two new baby lizards have hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo, the first of their species to be bred there, zoo officials said Thursday.

Clever trick to cook young stars detected for first time—astronomers highlight magnetic fields as the missing ingredient

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-clever-cook-young-stars-astronomers.html

Published: December 19, 2024 19:00

The missing ingredient for cooking up stars in the same way you might steam your Christmas pudding has been spotted for the first time by astronomers. Much like a pressure cooker has a weight on top of its lid to keep the pressure in and get your festive…

Environmental groups challenge update to California's low-carbon transportation rules

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-environmental-groups-california-carbon.html

Published: December 19, 2024 16:29

A coalition of environmental groups challenged California's leading climate regulator on Wednesday, alleging that a recent update to a leading climate program will create additional pollution in the state's San Joaquin Valley.

By looking at individual atoms in tooth enamel, researchers are learning what happens to our teeth as we age

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-individual-atoms-tooth-enamel-teeth.html

Published: December 19, 2024 16:29

Teeth are essential for helping people break down the food they eat, and are protected by enamel, which helps them withstand the large amount of stress they experience as people chew away. Unlike other materials in the body, enamel has no way to repair…

Most precise measurement of electrically neutral beauty meson lifetime achieved

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-precise-electrically-neutral-beauty-meson.html

Published: December 19, 2024 16:29

The ATLAS collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has released a new high-precision measurement of the lifetime of the electrically neutral beauty (B0) meson—a hadron composed of a bottom antiquark and a down quark.

Study reveals flies more vulnerable than bees to climate change

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-reveals-flies-vulnerable-bees-climate.html

Published: December 19, 2024 16:27

Despite their reputation as buzzing nuisances, flies serve a critical role as some of the Earth's most prolific pollinators—and new research led by Penn State scientists suggests they are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures.

Denali Fault found to have torn apart ancient joining of two landmasses

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-denali-fault-torn-ancient-landmasses.html

Published: December 19, 2024 15:53

New research shows that three sites spread along an approximately 620-mile portion of today's Denali Fault were once a smaller united geologic feature indicative of the final joining of two land masses. That feature was then torn apart by millions of years…

Eco-friendly reactor mimics lightning to produce ammonia from air and water

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-eco-friendly-reactor-mimics-lightning.html

Published: December 19, 2024 15:51

There's a good chance you owe your existence to the Haber-Bosch process.

New synthesis technique cuts drug development time and cost

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-synthesis-technique-drug.html

Published: December 19, 2024 15:50

A team of chemists from Scripps Research and Rice University has unveiled a novel method to simplify the synthesis of piperidines, a key structural component in many pharmaceuticals. The study, published in Science, combines biocatalytic carbon-hydrogen…

Research reveals an inexpensive fix for California's struggling wildflowers

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-reveals-inexpensive-california-struggling-wildflowers.html

Published: December 19, 2024 15:47

California's native wildflowers are being smothered by layers of dead, invasive grasses. A new UC Riverside study shows that simply raking these layers can boost biodiversity and reduce fire danger.

Sugar solution matches antibiotics in treating cow infections

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-sugar-solution-antibiotics-cow-infections.html

Published: December 19, 2024 15:06

A concentrated sugar solution could be just as effective as antibiotics at treating a common infection in dairy cows, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. The results were recently published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary…

Scientists achieve collective quantum behavior in macroscopic oscillators

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-scientists-quantum-behavior-macroscopic-oscillators.html

Published: December 19, 2024 15:02

Quantum technologies are radically transforming our understanding of the universe. One emerging technology is macroscopic mechanical oscillators, devices that are vital in quartz watches, mobile phones, and lasers used in telecommunications. In the quantum…

Newly identified mysterious fossil seed reveals Ice Age climate patterns

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-newly-mysterious-fossil-seed-reveals.html

Published: December 19, 2024 15:02

La Brea Tar Pits scientists have identified a previously unknown juniper species as Juniperus scopulorum, commonly known as the Rocky Mountain Juniper. The successful identification, along with the first-ever radiocarbon dating of these fossil plants in…

Discovery of egg's immune-like attack on sperm mitochondria may aid fertility

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-discovery-egg-immune-sperm-mitochondria.html

Published: December 19, 2024 15:00

Within minutes of fertilization, the egg of a fruit fly becomes a scene from the battle of the sexes. The egg attacks and destroys the cellular "power plants" (mitochondria) from the sperm that had fertilized it, so that only its own mitochondria remain.…

New 'molecular flipbook' gives researchers the best look yet at ribosomal motion

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-molecular-flipbook-ribosomal-motion.html

Published: December 19, 2024 14:59

At one time or another, most of us have played with a flipbook, using our thumbs to rapidly flip a series of pictures to create an illusion of movement.

Plasma heating efficiency in fusion devices boosted by metal screens

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-plasma-efficiency-fusion-devices-boosted.html

Published: December 19, 2024 14:58

Heating plasma to the ultra-high temperatures needed for fusion reactions requires more than turning the dial on a thermostat. Scientists consider multiple methods, one of which involves injecting electromagnetic waves into the plasma, the same process…

Early warning tool may help control huge locust swarms

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-early-tool-huge-locust-swarms.html

Published: December 19, 2024 14:00

Desert locusts typically lead solitary lives until something—like intense rainfall—triggers them to swarm in vast numbers, often with devastating consequences.

Cellular RNA plays key role in antiviral defense, study finds

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-cellular-rna-plays-key-role.html

Published: December 19, 2024 14:00

Scientists have uncovered a new role for a cell's own RNA in fending off attacks by RNA viruses. Some of the cell's RNA molecules, researchers found, help regulate antiviral signaling. These signals are part of the intricate coordination of immune…

Why don't more women choose to propose to their male partners?

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-dont-women-male-partners.html

Published: December 19, 2024 14:00

The Christmas period isn't just for presents, sparkling lights and too much festive food—it's also prime time for couples to get engaged. And for heterosexual couples, this is likely to happen in a specific way. The man will do the asking.

Extended chart of life shows ancient species may have evolved slower and lasted longer

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-life-ancient-species-evolved-slower.html

Published: December 19, 2024 14:00

If all the world's a stage and all the species merely players, then their exits and entrances can be found in the rock record. Fossilized skeletons and shells clearly show how evolution and extinction unfolded over the past half a billion years, but a…

SpaceX to launch more private astronaut missions to ISS

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-spacex-private-astronaut-missions-iss.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:50

Elon Musk's SpaceX is planning to fly private crew missions to the International Space Station in partnership with a Calfornia-based startup, the two companies said on Thursday.

Biotic factors contribute more to aboveground biomass across scales

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-biotic-factors-contribute-aboveground-biomass.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:50

The aboveground biomass of vegetation is significant to the global carbon cycle and climate change mitigation. Both biotic factors, such as forest structure attributes, community-weighted mean of traits, and functional diversity, and abiotic factors, such…

AI model forecasts product trends, enhances online shopping experience

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-ai-product-trends-online.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:47

Online retail platforms are increasingly becoming a dumping ground for low-quality products—which, over time, only serves to tarnish the retailer's reputation and dent sales. But new research from a team of business scholars at University of Illinois…

Examination of political investments reveals democrat involvement spooks corporate raiders

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-political-investments-reveals-democrat-involvement.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:44

Stock investments by politicians have long drawn public scrutiny. Under a 2012 law, members of the U.S. Congress must disclose transactions over a $1,000 threshold. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were criticized for…

Sustainability not an important criterion in top executives' remuneration

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-sustainability-important-criterion-remuneration.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:43

A study by an international team of researchers from the University of Tübingen and the HEC business school in Paris has shown that the payment of bonuses to executive board members in large European corporations is only minimally influenced by whether the…

Hybrid dune experiment tests erosion resistance during storms

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-hybrid-dune-erosion-resistance-storms.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:42

Last week, a 100-meter-long test dune was raised on the coast near Monster. A hybrid dune, consisting of a combination of sand and hard elements. Researchers from TU Delft are monitoring how different configurations erode during stormy weather conditions.…

Ancient Mars' thick crust could have supported hidden water reservoirs and rare magmas, new research suggests

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-ancient-mars-thick-crust-hidden.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:36

A new study explores how variations in Mars' crustal thickness during its ancient history may have influenced the planet's magmatic evolution and hydrological systems. The research, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, suggests that the thick…

Researchers highlight role 'workhorse protein' plays in keeping nervous system running smoothly

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-highlight-role-workhorse-protein-plays.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:35

A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the first to show how proteins called "chaperones" are vital in ensuring that neurons can transmit signals to one another. When this neurotransmission breaks down, devastating diseases…

Researchers unveil chip for quick antibiotic monitoring in water

https://phys.org/news/2024-12-unveil-chip-quick-antibiotic.html

Published: December 19, 2024 13:34

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis because of microbes, such as bacteria, becoming resistant to antibiotics. A leading factor in this rise is the improper use and disposal of antibiotics in the environment.