Can selection tie evolution more closely to physics?
New papers claim to link evolution to other physics, but neither really succeeds. Enlarge / Does Assembly Theory have useful things to say about evolution? The paper written by its proponents makes that difficult to tell. (credit.....»»
Powerful new particle accelerator a step closer with muon-marshaling technology
New experimental results show particles called muons can be corralled into beams suitable for high-energy collisions, paving the way for new physics......»»
Scientists develop new tool that could lead to noninvasive "liquid biopsies"
Biopsies are clinical tools commonly used to diagnose a variety of diseases or to monitor tissue for abnormal growth or even rejection of a transplant. During biopsies, tissue samples are removed from the body so they can be examined more closely, bu.....»»
Surprising ring sheds light on galaxy formation
The question of what triggers the extremely rapid star formation within Hyper Luminous Infrared Galaxies (HyLIRGs), as yet unknown, is of much interest to guide our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies in the universe. A new photo.....»»
Zooplankton study challenges traditional views of evolution
In new research, Arizona State University scientists and their colleagues investigated genetic changes occurring in a naturally isolated population of the water flea, Daphnia pulex. This tiny crustacean, barely visible to the naked eye, plays a cruci.....»»
How old are South African fossils like the Taung Child? Study offers an answer
One hundred years ago, the discovery of a skull in South Africa's North West province altered our understanding of human evolution. The juvenile skull was dubbed the Taung Child by Raymond Dart, an anatomist at the University of the Witwatersrand, wh.....»»
Physicists observe excited states in lanthanum-120
For the first time, physicists have observed excited states in the very neutron-deficient odd-odd nucleus, lanthanum-120. The study, published in Physics Letters B, was conducted by researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chines.....»»
Animals use physics? Let us count the ways
Cats twist and snakes slide, exploiting and negotiating physical laws. Enlarge (credit: Fernando Trabanco Fotografía via Getty Images) Isaac Newton would never have discovered the laws of motion had he studied only cats.....»»
Exploring three-dimensional quantum Griffiths singularity in bulk unconventional iron-based superconductors
Exploration of exotic quantum phase transitions has always been a focus in condensed matter physics. Critical phenomena in a phase transition are entirely determined by the universality class, which is controlled by the spatial and/or order-parameter.....»»
New geological dating techniques place first European hominids in Iberian Peninsula 1.3 million years ago
One of the most important controversies about human evolution and expansion is when and by what route the first hominids arrived in Europe from the African continent. Now, geological dating techniques at the Orce sites (Baza basin, Granada) place the.....»»
AI model harnesses physics to autocorrect remote sensing data
Turbulence, temperature changes, water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, and other gases absorb, reflect, and scatter sunlight as it passes through the atmosphere, bounces off the Earth's surface, and is collected by a sensor on a remote sensing.....»»
Selection processes play dominant role in shaping coexisting assemblages of trees and soil fungi: Study
Community assembly is shaped by four main processes: selection—fitness differences between organisms; dispersal—organisms' movement across space; drift—unpredictable variation in abundance; and diversification—new genetic variants. However, w.....»»
Study introduces lead-coated nickel catalyst for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction efficiency
In a recent collaboration, a research team developed a hydrogen evolution reaction catalyst that minimizes degradation caused by reverse current in alkaline water electrolysis systems......»»
Q&A: Researcher discusses how gravitational waves hint at dark matter and Big Bang mysteries
Gravitational waves, ripples in space-time predicted by Einstein almost a century ago, were detected for the first time in 2015. A new study led by Yanou Cui, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Riverside,.....»»
Study elucidates taxonomy and habit evolution of Ainsliaea genus
As the largest genus in the subfamily Pertyoideae of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), Ainsliaea is widely distributed in East Asia and the Himalayas, playing a key role in various plant communities with significant ecological and scientific importa.....»»
Observation of 3D acoustic quantum Hall states
The quantum Hall effect (QHE) is one of the most notable discoveries in condensed matter physics, opening the door to topological physics. Extending QHE into three dimensions is an inspiring but challenging endeavor. This difficulty arises because th.....»»
Summertime Depression Could Be a Type of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Heat and mood are closely linked, which may explain summertime depression—and how to treat it.....»»
Study shows leaf shape and size can"t reliably distinguish wild coca plants from those grown to make cocaine
A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution indicates that while the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has collected annual data on areas of coca cultivation in South America for decades to monitor the establishment of illegal plantations a.....»»
A gendered social innovation framework for tourism-led development initiatives
Gendered social innovation is a crucial process that intertwines social change with female entrepreneurship, empowerment, and the evolution of work among women in the tourism industry......»»
Global database reveals large gaps in our knowledge of four-footed animals
Researchers have developed TetrapodTraits—a global database of animals with four feet—which can now be applied for better ecology, evolution and conservation research. Mario Moura of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil, and Walter Jetz.....»»
No GPS, no problem: Researchers are making quantum sensing tools more compact and accurate to replace GPS
Fundamental physics—let alone quantum physics—might sound complicated to many, but it can actually be applied to solve everyday problems......»»