Physics of snakeskin sheds light on sidewinding
Most snakes get from A to B by bending their bodies into S-shapes and slithering forward headfirst. A few species, however—found in the deserts of North America, Africa and the Middle East—have an odder way of getting around. Known as "sidewinder.....»»
A versatile approach to realize quantum-enhanced metrology with large Fock states
The collecting of highly precise measurements can enable research developments and technological advancements in numerous fields. In physics, high-precision measurements can unveil new phenomena and experimentally validate theories......»»
Afar mantle plume study offers new insight into deep Earth processes
Sophisticated analysis of tiny bubbles of ancient gas trapped in volcanic rocks, combined with new geophysical modeling, has cast new light on long-held assumptions about the deep Earth......»»
Study shows virtual reality may help pedestrians and cyclists avoid harmful pollutants
Physics-informed virtual reality could be key to reducing the exposure of pedestrians and cyclists to harmful, non-exhaust vehicle emissions, according to a study published 25 Sep in the Royal Society Open Science journal......»»
Sonos workers shed light on why the app update went so horribly
Meetings with "yelling," "screaming" preceded app's release, Bloomberg reports. Enlarge (credit: Sonos) In May, Sonos updated its mobile app—to the dismay of many users. With missing features and bugs, customers compla.....»»
Extreme polar light environment of the North and South Poles sustains biodiversity, researchers suggest
Researchers working in Finland propose that the unique light environment of the Earth's polar regions creates conditions that result in circumpolar hybrid zones around the North and the South Poles. These extreme conditions increase the synchrony of.....»»
Proof-of-concept study uses X-rays to target mock-up asteroids in a vacuum
An X-ray pulse may be able to vaporize the surface of an asteroid and change its trajectory, according to a proof-of-concept paper published in Nature Physics. A laboratory experiment that mimics the deflection of an asteroid model using this techniq.....»»
New physics needed? Experts suggest possibility of updating fundamental physics concepts
An unexpected finding about how our universe formed is again raising the question: do we need new physics? The answer could fundamentally change what physics students are taught in classes around the world......»»
Study shows artificial light at night changes the behavior of fish, even into the next generation
Scientists have shown that light pollution—especially light in the blue spectrum—can alter the behavior of fish after only a few nights, and have knock-on effects for their offspring. The team from China has studied how female zebrafish responded.....»»
GM recalling more than 449,000 SUVs, pickups due to issue with low brake fluid warning light
GM recalling more than 449,000 SUVs, pickups due to issue with low brake fluid warning light.....»»
Even the heaviest particles experience the usual quantum weirdness, new experiment shows
One of the most surprising predictions of physics is entanglement, a phenomenon where objects can be some distance apart but still linked together. The best-known examples of entanglement involve tiny chunks of light (photons), and low energies......»»
Saturday Citations: Football metaphors in physics; vets treat adorable baby rhino"s broken leg
This week, researchers reported an effective way to protect working dogs from heat stress: training them to dunk their heads in cool water. A new computational technique provided a breakthrough in understanding the so-called "pseudogap" in quantum ph.....»»
Light momentum turns pure silicon from an indirect to a direct bandgap semiconductor
UC Irvine-led research reveals that the optical properties of materials can be dramatically enhanced—not by changing the materials themselves, but by giving the light new properties......»»
Hubble lights the way with new multiwavelength view of galaxy NGC 1559
The magnificent galaxy featured in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is NGC 1559. It is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Reticulum, approximately 35 million light-years from Earth. The brilliant light captured in the curre.....»»
Research highlights the unseen challenges, adaptations of adult daughters during COVID upheaval for families
A Baylor University study has shed light on the often-overlooked experiences of women doing "daughtering" in families, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which created immense challenges in their relationships with parents and other family me.....»»
Unlock the Secret of a Gravity-Defying Parkour Stunt—With Physics!
Yes, you really can climb a building by jumping back and forth between two opposing walls. Thank you, Isaac Newton......»»
Astronomers just detected the biggest black hole jets ever seen—and named them Porphyrion
The largest known black hole jets, 23 million light years across, have been discovered in the distant universe. This pair of particle beams launched by a supermassive black hole is over a hundred times larger than our galaxy, the Milky Way......»»
Observers detect intraday variability of blazar 1ES 1426+42.8
Astronomers report the detection of optical intraday variability of a blazar known as 1ES 1426+42.8. The new findings, presented in a paper published in the September issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, could shed more light o.....»»
Ultra-Precise Particle Measurement Narrows Pathway to ‘New Physics’
A long-awaited calculation of the W boson’s mass agrees with theory, contradicting a previous anomaly that had raised the possibility of new physics beyond the Standard Model.....»»
Convergent evolution study sheds light on how new genes arise
Where do new genes come from? That's the question a team of biological sciences researchers from the U of A set out to answer in a new study......»»
Visible-light-antenna ligand enhances samarium-catalyzed reactions
Samarium (Sm), a rare earth metal, is important to organic chemists because of the ability of its divalent compounds to efficiently perform single-electron transfer reductions......»»