Birds" dazzling iridescence tied to nanoscale tweak of feather structure
The iridescent shimmer that makes birds such as peacocks and hummingbirds so striking is rooted in a natural nanostructure so complex that people are only just beginning to replicate it technologically. The secret to how birds produce these brilliant.....»»
A reliable experimental benchmark in crystal structure prediction of pharmaceutical drugs
Physical properties (stability, solubility, etc.), critical to the performance of pharmaceutical and functional materials, are known to strongly depend on the solid-state form and environmental factors, such as temperature and relative humidity. Reco.....»»
Desert birds lay larger eggs when they have more helpers, research shows
White-browed sparrow weavers live in family groups in which only a dominant pair breeds and their grown-up offspring, particularly females, help to feed nestlings......»»
Study explores limits of DNA structure and function, may expand use of modified DNA in medicine
A team led by Professor Michal Hocek at IOCB Prague has explored the limits of the structure and function of DNA and successfully pushed forward known boundaries. Their latest research has just been published in Nucleic Acids Research......»»
Hummingbirds" unique sideways flutter gets them through small apertures
Most birds that flit through dense, leafy forests have a strategy for maneuvering through tight windows in the vegetation—they bend their wings at the wrist or elbow and barrel through......»»
Connecting with kids who don"t want to engage
Angry Birds, Mario Kart and Animal Crossing are popular digital games that have captured the attention of children the world over. But in a preschool environment, games like these could distract your kids from engaging in the curriculum, unless you h.....»»
Here’s What Magic Editor Won’t Do
In my recent post of 30 Days With Pixel 8 Pro, I mentioned the AI-powered Magic Editor feature, found inside Google Photos. It’s a really fun feature that allows you to edit your images based on suggestions from Google’s AI. It can tweak.....»»
New antifungal molecule kills fungi without toxicity in human cells, mice
A new antifungal molecule, devised by tweaking the structure of prominent antifungal drug Amphotericin B, has the potential to harness the drug's power against fungal infections while doing away with its toxicity, researchers at the University of Ill.....»»
Local adaptation may buffer some birds against climate change
North American song sparrows may be more resilient to climate change thanks to a remarkable adaptation: a stunning range of body sizes found throughout the bird's westernmost range......»»
Q&A: Birds of East Africa—their extraordinary diversity and changing behavior
101 Curious Tales of East African Birds is a new book that uses academic research to tell fascinating stories about the tropical birds of east Africa, from well-known species to rare ones. It also explores changing bird behavior in the region. Its au.....»»
Researchers use powerful AI tool to gain new insights into protein structures
An international team of researchers has revealed new insights about the three-dimensional structure of certain types of proteins by using the powerful artificial intelligence tool AlphaFold2......»»
Most monstrous marsquake ever reveals where it came from
A seismic event that looked like an impact, but no craters to be seen. Enlarge / InSight captured seismic waves released when an impact formed this crater in 2021. But a similar event can't be tied to any craters. Earth.....»»
James Webb snaps an image of the famous and beautiful Crab Nebula
Located 6,500 light-years away, the Crab Nebula is famous among astronomers for its elaborate and beautiful structure......»»
Video: Preparing for Euclid"s first images, from puzzling data to dazzling views
Never before has a telescope been able to create such razor-sharp astronomical images across such a large patch of the sky......»»
Asteroids in the solar system could contain undiscovered, superheavy elements
For centuries, the quest for new elements was a driving force in many scientific disciplines. Understanding an atom's structure and the development of nuclear science allowed scientists to accomplish the old goal of alchemists—turning one element i.....»»
Restoring Cuyamaca"s tree canopy is years away: Some birds may never return
It is a 2.6-mile hike up Lookout Road to reach Cuyamaca Peak from Paso Picacho Campground......»»
CEO of rocket-maker ULA makes a sales pitch—for the whole company
The company's "complicated" ownership structure is holding it back. Enlarge / Tory Bruno, ULA's chief executive, inside the company's rocket factory in Decatur, Alabama. (credit: Cameron Carnes for The Washington Post via Getty.....»»
Fruit, nectar, bugs and blood: How bat teeth and jaws evolved for a diverse dinnertime
They don't know it, but Darwin's finches changed the world. These closely related species—native to the Galapagos Islands—each sport a uniquely shaped beak that matches their preferred diet. Studying these birds helped Charles Darwin develop the.....»»
New research finds stress and strain changes metal electronic structure
New research from the University of Birmingham shows that the electronic structure of metals can strongly affect their mechanical properties......»»
Analysis finds diversity on the smallest scales in sulfur-cycling salt marsh microbes
At the surface, salt marshes and their windswept grasses can look deceptively simple. But those marshes are teeming with biodiversity, from the insects and migrating birds in the air all the way down to the microbes that live in the soil. Scientists.....»»
Tiny networks intertwine to mimic design of bird colors
The bright plumage of birds is often a feast for the eyes, but it has been a headache for scientists who have struggled to recreate the photonic nanostructures that generate those colors in the lab......»»