Cool Science

[Rhinocrates]

Aero engineers might be interested to know that aerodynamics applies to architecture.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfmT0zUVhHs&t=13s


I studied architecture (and still live) in a city that on one hand is a scale model of San Francisco (including earthquakes) with the wind of Chicago. It's no surprise watching this video to see the role that design for wind is such a consideration. My old architecture school has a wind tunnel too and I was surprised, running calculations for building structures as an undergrad, that keeping a roof up was less of a problem than keeping it from flying away.

By the way, the architecture practice covered in this video, SOM or Skidmore, Owings, and Merril, designed the USAF Academy Cadet Chapel. Some here might be familiar with it.

 

[publiusr]

That looks familiar

Resurrection Ship - Battlestar Wiki

en.battlestarwikiclone.org

Speaking of ships, a wreck has been found

Wreck of the last ship of famed Anglo-Irish explorer Shackleton found off the coast of Canada

The wreck of the last ship belonging to Sir Ernest Shackleton, a famous Irish-born British explorer of Antarctica, has been found off the coast of Labrador in Canada, 62 years after it went missing. The wreck was found by an international team led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

phys.org

Writing and visuals

Oldest privately owned book sells for £3mn at UK sale

The world's oldest book in a private collection, and one of the earliest books in existence, sold at auction in London on Tuesday for more than £3 million.

phys.org

Think tech killed penmanship? Messy handwriting was a problem centuries before smartphones

Handwriting is dead. At least that's what a New York Times article announced in 2023 in its postmortem investigation "What Killed Penmanship?" But there was no doubt about the culprit: technology.

phys.org

Research reveals visuals' crucial role in strategic decision-making

Management consultants and professors seem to be obsessed with visuals. When it comes to strategy, they either pull out their impeccable slides, replete with graphics ranging from a SWOT analysis to Porter's Five Forces to the Strategy Canvas, or they pick up a marker to sketch out their own...

phys.org

Floating checkerboard

Nanosized blocks spontaneously assemble in water to create tiny floating checkerboards

Researchers have engineered nanosized cubes that spontaneously form a two-dimensional checkerboard pattern when dropped on the surface of water. The work, published in Nature Communications, presents a simple approach to create complex nanostructures through a technique called self-assembly.

phys.org

art lab

The high-tech art lab hidden underneath Paris

It looks like the lair of a Bond villain: behind armored doors, buried underground below the Louvre in Paris, lies one of the most high-tech art labs in the world.

phys.org

Dart gun

New dart launcher may be a better way to inject animals with drugs

A new type of dart launcher has been developed as a safer and more cost-effective alternative to firearms or air guns to inject animals with drugs or tracking chips.

phys.org

Technology today

Current development status and prospects of emerging polymer/MXene electromagnetic shielding composites

With the booming development of 5th generation (5G) mobile networks, various electronic devices have been widely used to improve people's standard of living. However, they also cause serious electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radiation, which has been known to affect the normal operation of...

phys.org

Research highlights potential of photo-driven fin field-effect transistors

Infrared detectors are the core components of infrared detection systems and play an important role in fields such as night vision, remote sensing, and health monitoring. In this context, the utilization of mature silicon technologies to develop miniaturized, highly integrated, and...

phys.org

When quantum dots meet blue phase liquid crystal elastomers

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials have attracted tremendous attention for their potential applications in many fields, such as molecular sensors, information encryption, and optical storage. So far, using cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) with helical superstructure has proved...

phys.org

Strong coupling and catenary field enhancement in the hybrid plasmonic metamaterial cavity and TMDC monolayers

Researchers in the field of nanophotonics have spent significant time in recent years investigating fascinating concepts known as polaritons and/or plexcitons. These ideas revolve around the strong coupling of light photons and/or plasmons to excitons in semiconductor materials.

phys.org

Enhancement and manipulation of second- and third-harmonic generation based on all-dielectric nonlinear metasurfaces

Nonlinear optics is a branch of optics that deals with the complex nonlinear relationships between the optical response of the medium and the incident light when it interacts with the optical medium. Currently, nonlinear optics has been successfully applied to a variety of fields, such as laser...

phys.org

Thermoelectric devices may solve overheating issues in shrinking transistors, researchers say

The electronics industry faces a new challenge. While transistors in computer chips are shrinking, the heat they produce is only increasing. Overheating can cause reduced circuit performance, increased leakage power or even the total breakdown of transistors.

techxplore.com

Making ferromagnets ready for ultra-fast communication and computation technology

An international team led by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, has made a significant breakthrough in how to enable and exploit ultra-fast spin behavior in ferromagnets. The research, "Spin inertia and auto-oscillations in ferromagnets," is published in Physical Review...

phys.org

Engineer explains the science behind metamaterials and MRI enhancement

In recent years, the field of metamaterials has experienced substantial growth, revealing exciting potential, especially in advancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. Three new studies led by Dr. Xin Zhang, a BU College of Engineering Distinguished Professor and a professor at the BU...

phys.org

New chip-scale erbium-based laser offers broad wavelength tunability

Lasers have revolutionized the world since the 60s and are now indispensable in modern applications, from cutting-edge surgery and precise manufacturing to data transmission across optical fibers.

phys.org

The impact of carbon impurities on the quality of gallium nitride crystals

The wide availability of light-emitting devices (LEDs) for consumer use has led to a dramatic decrease in the cost of lighting our homes and other buildings. This is owing to the much higher efficiency of LEDs in converting electrical energy into light when compared with incandescent or even...

phys.org

Physics news

New theory describes how waves carry information from surroundings

Waves pick up information from their environment through which they propagate. A theory of information carried by waves has now been developed at TU Wien—with astonishing results that can be utilized for technical applications.

phys.org

A first look inside radium's solid-state chemistry

For the first time in history, scientists have measured radium's bonding interactions with oxygen atoms in an organic molecule. Scientists have not measured this bonding before because radium-226 is available only in small amounts and it is highly radioactive (radium is one million times more...

phys.org

Pseudomagic quantum states: A path to quantum supremacy

A new study in Physical Review Letters (PRL) introduces the concept of pseudomagic quantum states, which appear to have high stabilizerness (or complexity) and can move us closer to achieving quantum supremacy.

phys.org

Quantum entangled photons react to Earth's spin

A team of researchers led by Philip Walther at the University of Vienna carried out a pioneering experiment where they measured the effect of the rotation of Earth on quantum entangled photons. The work, published in Science Advances, represents a significant achievement that pushes the...

phys.org

Exploring the potential of micro nuclear reactors for electrifying developing regions

The development of technologies to generate affordable electricity and their deployment in remote or developing geographical regions has been the topic of many recent studies. These studies could inform future interventions and policies in these regions, by highlighting the most promising solutions.

techxplore.com

Physicists use machine learning techniques to search for exotic-looking collisions that could indicate new physics

One of the main goals of the LHC experiments is to look for signs of new particles, which could explain many of the unsolved mysteries in physics. Often, searches for new physics are designed to look for one specific type of new particle at a time, using theoretical predictions as a guide. But...

phys.org

Researchers unveil the dynamical nature of emergent magnetic monopoles in real magnets for the first time

Magnetic monopoles are elementary particles with isolated magnetic charges in three dimensions. In other words, they behave as isolated north or south poles of a magnet. Magnetic monopoles have attracted continuous research interest since physicist Paul Dirac's first proposal in 1931. However...

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-theory-links-quantum-geometry-electron.html

Weather and geology

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-students-crisscross-tornado-alley-storms.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-3d-visualization-hurricane.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-quantum-assimilation-approach-weather.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-video-analysis-iceland-eruption-volcanic.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-energy-earthquakes-brecciation-fault-zone.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-tiny-large-scale-faults.html

biology

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-veggie-piranha-species-tolkien-villain.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-scientists-secrets-life-energy.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-baby-bison-white.html

COVID and medical finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-age-linked-severe-fatal-covid.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-reveals-pathogens-repurpose-phage-elements.html

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-lung-cancer-patients-worse-outcomes.html

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-technologies-enable-3d-imaging-human.html

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-human-hippocampus-contributes-based-decision.html

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-mechanisms.html

New 'smart bandages' hold potential for advancing the treatment of chronic wounds

Chronic wounds, which include diabetic ulcers, surgical wounds, pressure injuries, and other problems, are deadlier than many people realize. Patients with chronic wounds have a five-year survival rate around 70%, worse than that of breast cancer, prostate cancer and other serious diseases...

medicalxpress.com

Mapping the heart to prevent damage caused by a heart attack

Scientists at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Australia have produced a first of its kind integrated map of heart cells which unlocks the process of cardiac fibrosis—a major cause of heart failure.

medicalxpress.com

Researchers discover a significant problem in brain imaging and identify a fix

In a new study, investigators from McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Drug Abuse—Intramural Research Program (NIDA-IRP) have discovered that the tendency of people's arousal to wane over the course of brain scans has been distorting the brain connection maps...

medicalxpress.com

A railroad of cells: Computer simulations explain cell movement

Looking under the microscope, a group of cells slowly moves forward in a line, like a train on the tracks. The cells navigate through complex environments. A new approach by researchers involving the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) now shows how they do this and how they...

phys.org

Open-source project maps the biology of spinal cord injury in unprecedented detail

Scientists at EPFL have achieved a significant research milestone in the field of spinal cord injuries—mapping out the cellular and molecular dynamics of paralysis in unprecedented detail with their open-source project titled "Tabulae Paralytica."

medicalxpress.com

New technology allows researchers to precisely, flexibly modulate brain

Human brain diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, involve damage in more than one region of the brain, requiring technology that could precisely and flexibly address all affected regions simultaneously.

medicalxpress.com

Computer-designed proteins guide stem cells to form blood vessels

Using computer-designed proteins, researchers have now shown they are able to direct human stem cells to form new blood vessels in the lab. This milestone in regenerative medicine offers new hope for repairing damaged hearts, kidneys, and other organs.

phys.org

Transposons could be new targets for aging research and treatment

A new USC Leonard Davis School-led study highlights how transposons—commonly called "jumping genes" because of their ability to move to different parts of the genome—are associated with age-related disease and decline, as well as how additional genes governing transposon expression may one day...

medicalxpress.com

Technology provides new understanding of voice, swallowing physiology

With data gleaned from high-speed cameras, coaches can identify split-second flaws in a baseball pitcher's delivery or a golfer's swing that cannot be seen by the naked eye, revolutionizing sports for players and spectators.

techxplore.com

Researchers create innovative polymer wound dressings for painless and residue-free removal

Wound dressings should provide sterile coverage, protect the wound, and adhere reliably, while still allowing for painless removal. It is essential that the process of skin renewal remains undisturbed.

phys.org

 

[Richard N]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1803683309744250969

View: https://x.com/McFaul/status/1803683309744250969

 

[publiusr]

Physics news

Physicists find a new way to represent π

While investigating how string theory can be used to explain certain physical phenomena, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have stumbled upon on a new series representation for the irrational number π. It provides an easier way to extract π from calculations involved in...

phys.org

Squeezing Schrödinger's cat may increase quantum sensitivity

One of the most counter-intuitive aspects of quantum physics is the idea that a quantum system, unlike a physical system governed by the everyday physics of the macroscopic universe, can exist in two states at once even if these states are contradictory.

phys.org

Key mechanism in nuclear reaction dynamics promises advances in nuclear physics

Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the transfer of neutrons in weakly bound nuclei. The experiment, performed at Legnaro National Laboratory, focused on the one-neutron stripping process in reactions involving lithium-6 and bismuth-209. The work is published in the...

phys.org

Einstein's other theory of gravity could have the recipe to relieve 'Hubble trouble'

A recent study has investigated teleparallel gravity and its potential to resolve tension surrounding the expansion of the universe in a way that general relativity can't.

phys.org

Scientists develop 3D printed vacuum system that aims to trap dark matter

Using a specially designed 3D printed vacuum system, scientists have developed a way to "trap" dark matter with the aim of detecting domain walls. This will be a significant step forwards in unraveling some of the mysteries of the universe.

phys.org

Quantum computers are like kaleidoscopes: Why unusual metaphors help illustrate science and technology

Quantum computing is like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates: You never know what you're gonna get. Quantum phenomena—the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels—are not definite, one thing or another. They are opaque clouds of possibility, or more precisely...

phys.org

The humanities

Shepherd's graffiti sheds new light on Acropolis lost temple mystery

The Acropolis of Athens, the rocky hill in the Greek capital that is home to the iconic Parthenon temple, is one of the world's most visited and well-known archaeological sites—but new insights about it are still emerging.

phys.org

The St. Anne's fire in Toronto highlights the significance of space for cities and communities

The public reaction to the tragic fire that consumed St. Anne's Anglican Church on Toronto's Gladstone Street is remarkable on many levels.

phys.org

In sync: The biological underpinnings of romantic attraction and bonding

A new study led by Dr. Shir Atzil and her team from the Department of Psychology at the Hebrew University unveils intriguing insights into the mechanisms of romantic bonding, focusing particularly on physiological synchrony—the alignment of physiological responses between individuals—and its...

medicalxpress.com

Study suggests at-camera gaze can increase scores in simulated interviews

Eye-contact has a significant impact on interpersonal evaluation, and online job interviews are no exception. In addition to the quality of a resume, the direction of the interviewee's gaze might help (or hinder) their chances of securing the job.

phys.org

Biomechanics of sound production in high-pitched classical singing

Opera singers have to use the extreme limits of their voice range. Many pedagogical and scientific sources suggest that the highest pitches reached in classical singing can only be produced with a so-called "whistle" voice register, in analogy to ultrasonic vocalizations of mice and rats.

phys.org

Origins of cumulative culture in human evolution—researchers identify contributions to today's culture and technology

Each of us individually is the accumulated product of thousands of generations that have come before us in an unbroken line. Our culture and technology today are also the result of thousands of years of accumulated and remixed cultural knowledge.

phys.org

Improving fingerprint detection with carbon-coated nanoparticles

Fingerprint detection is one of the most important techniques in forensic investigation. When fingerprints are dusted with a carbon-based powder, the material will adhere to the moisture and grease left behind by the unique patterns of ridges and valleys on the perpetrator's fingertip. The...

phys.org

Economists reveal the costs of sanctions

What effect do economic sanctions have on the countries affected, such as Russia or Iran? What impact do they have on the sanctioning states? And is there possibly an ideal coalition of sanction partners? Economists from Würzburg, Kiel, Berlin and Bielefeld have analyzed these questions. They...

phys.org

Phonics and why it is used to teach reading

Victoria has just announced all government schools will be required to use phonics to teach reading from next year. This brings it in line with approaches in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

phys.org

Great British Bake Off finalist discusses the parallels between chemistry and baking

Last year on a Friday evening, chemical biology researcher Josh Smalley was in the lab when he received a call inviting him to appear on the 14th and latest season of "The Great British Bake Off." Starting as one of a group of 12 amateur bakers, Smalley made it all the way to the final round...

phys.org

Easter Island and ecology

Study challenges popular idea that Easter islanders committed 'ecocide'

Some 1,000 years ago, a small band of Polynesians sailed thousands of miles across the Pacific to settle one of the world's most isolated places—a small, previously uninhabited island they named Rapa Nui. There, they erected hundreds of "moai," or gigantic stone statues that now famously stand...

phys.org

New study finds dinosaur fossils did not inspire the mythological griffin

A popular and widely-promoted claim that dinosaur fossils inspired the legend of the griffin, the mythological creature with a raptorial bird head and wings on a lion body, has been challenged in a new study published in Interdisciplinary Science Reviews.

phys.org

250-million-year-old fossil seen anew with modern technology

Details of an ancient cousin of modern-day mammals are being revealed for the first time. Hi-tech scanning of an ancient fossil, which was captured in sandstone around 252–254 million years ago, is giving experts valuable insight into the animal's anatomy and evolution.

phys.org

New, small, ancient crocodile-like reptile described in Brazil

The discovery of a new, ancient, predatory reptile dubbed Parvosuchus aurelioi—part of a group of crocodile-like reptiles called pseudosuchians—in Brazil is described in a paper in Scientific Reports. The specimen, which dates to approximately 237 million years ago, during the Middle-Late...

phys.org

Scientists solve the puzzle of directional hearing underwater

When underwater, humans cannot determine where a sound comes from. Sound travels about five times faster there than on land. That makes directional hearing, or sound localization, nearly impossible because the human brain determines the origin of a sound by analyzing the time difference between...

phys.org

Where to put head and tail? Researchers discover new factor in the formation of body axes

Formation of the body axes is a critical part of embryonic development. They guarantee that all body parts end up where they belong and that no ears grow on our backs. The head-tail axis, for example, determines the orientation of the two ends of the body. It was previously assumed that this...

phys.org

Unifying behavioral analysis through animal foundation models

Although there is the saying, "straight from the horse's mouth," it's impossible to get a horse to tell you if it's in pain or experiencing joy. Yet, its body will express the answer in its movements. To a trained eye, pain will manifest as a change in gait, or in the case of joy, the facial...

phys.org

When bacteria are buckling: Study supports propulsion based on adhesion forces rather than slime extrusion

Filamentous cyanobacteria buckle at a certain length when they encounter an obstacle. This was discovered by the research group of Stefan Karpitschka, group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization and professor at the University of Konstanz. The results, appearing...

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-fish-offspring.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-green-sahara-collapse.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-circular-food-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-scientists-document-propelling-oxygen-decline.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-scientists-significant-climate-catastrophes.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-uncover-nitrogen-early-evolution-earth.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-06-strategic-placement-hydropower-fish.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-weve-endangered-eels-weirs.html

Weather

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-shifting-cloud-patterns-exacerbating-climate.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-large-wildfires-weather-favors.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-earthquake-ganges.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-north-texas-storms-worsen-climate.html

The jumping leech

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-conclusive-video-evidence-terrestrial-leech.html

Richard III

Lost King - the story of how Phillipa Langley stuck to her guns and found Richard III - Cosmoquest Forum

A docudrama is scheduled to release in October that describes the efforts of Phillipa Langley (former chair of Richard III Society (https://richardiii.net/)) to successfully find the remains of Richard III - in a car park no less...

forum.cosmoquest.org

 

[publiusr]

Human events

Kids given 'digital pacifiers' to calm tantrums fail to learn how to regulate emotions, study finds

Tantrums are part of growing up. How these outbursts of anger or frustration are managed, however, can impact children's emotional development.

medicalxpress.com

Sharing false political information on social media may be associated with positive schizotypy, research suggests

Sharing false political information on social media by users may be associated with aspects of personality such as positive schizotypy, a set of traits including paranoia, suspicion and disrupted thinking patterns. It may also be linked to a motivation to increase awareness according to a study...

phys.org

Occupational hazards for ancient Egyptian scribes

Repetitive tasks carried out by ancient Egyptian scribes—high-status men with the ability to write who performed administrative tasks—and the positions they sat in while working may have led to degenerative skeletal changes, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.

phys.org

Study provides insights into the use of decodable texts in early reading instruction

For young children, taking the first step towards reading can feel like an uphill task. This is because a child might find it easy to recognize individual letters but combining them into sentences can be overwhelming in the beginning. Moreover, the process of reading requires the brain to juggle...

phys.org

We date and marry people who are attractive as we are, new analysis finds

In good news for our egos, both men and women were pretty accurate at rating their own physical attractiveness, according to a new study. Couples also tended to be well-matched on their attractiveness, suggesting that we largely date and marry people in our own "league," at least as far as...

phys.org

Almonds, pottery, wood help date famed Kyrenia shipwreck

Historic shipwrecks often evoke dreams of sunken riches waiting on the bottom of the ocean to be reclaimed.

phys.org

1,500-year-old reliquary discovered

Since the summer of 2016, archaeologists from Innsbruck have been carrying out excavations in a late antique hilltop settlement in southern Austria. Two years ago, they made a sensational discovery: a Christian reliquary was still hidden in a previously unknown church. It contained a richly...

phys.org

Rare Sāmoan discovery offers clues to origins of inequality

The discovery of ancient rock walls and high mounds and ditches in dense jungle in the Falefa Valley on 'Upolu Island in Sāmoa holds valuable clues to the origins of ancestral land and social hierarchy in Polynesian society, according to a new study.

phys.org

New model shows more realistic picture of intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence is notoriously underreported and correctly diagnosed at hospitals only around a quarter of the time, but a new method provides a more realistic picture of which groups of women are most affected, even when their cases go unrecorded.

medicalxpress.com

The horrifying human cost of big sporting events

With the Copa América, the UEFA European Championship and the Olympic Games all taking place over a few months, summer 2024 is shaping up to be a celebration of sport.

phys.org

Smokers and biology news

Hydrothermal vents on seafloors of 'ocean worlds' could support life, new study says

We've all seen the surreal footage in nature documentaries showing hydrothermal vents on the frigid ocean floor—bellowing black plumes of super-hot water—and the life forms that cling to them. Now, a new study by UC Santa Cruz researchers suggests that lower-temperature vents, which are common...

phys.org

Investigating newly discovered hydrothermal vents at depths of 3,000 meters off Svalbard

Hydrothermal vents can be found around the world at the junctions of drifting tectonic plates. But there are many hydrothermal fields still to be discovered. During a 2022 expedition of the MARIA S. MERIAN, the first field of hydrothermal vents on the 500-kilometer-long Knipovich Ridge off the...

phys.org

Teaching biology—no more stressing out over structural formulas

Structural formulas are a source of dread for many students, but they're an essential tool in biology lessons. A joint study has shown that the stress levels of students working with chemical formulas are significantly reduced if they are given simple tips on how to deal with these formulas.

phys.org

Researchers propose a new, holistic way to teach synthetic biology

The field of synthetic biology, the science of manipulating biology, has a lot of "cooks in the kitchen," which has both helped it flourish and made it unusually difficult to create a cohesive, consistent curriculum for students at every level of study. Each discipline involved—from chemical...

phys.org

DeepEvo: An 'intelligent' strategy for engineering customized proteins

Engineering proteins for desirable traits has been the holy grail of modern biotechnology. For example, the food industry can benefit from engineered enzymes which have the ability to enhance biochemical reactions at higher temperatures, as compared to natural enzymes. This can save valuable...

phys.org

Scientists discover next-generation system for programmable genome design

In a leap forward for genetic engineering, a team of researchers from the Arc Institute has discovered the bridge recombinase mechanism, a precise and powerful tool to recombine and rearrange DNA in a programmable way.

phys.org

Study demonstrates that a process that turns off DNA transcription can, paradoxically, also turn it on

Researchers led by Kannosuke Yabe, Asuka Kamio, and Soichi Inagaki of the University of Tokyo have discovered that in thale cresses histone H3 lysine-9 (H3K9) methylation, conventionally thought to be a mark of turning off gene transcription, can also turn on gene expression via the interactions...

phys.org

Why the harsh Snowball Earth kick-started our earliest multicellular ancestors

For a billion years, single-celled eukaryotes ruled the planet. Then around 700 million years ago during Snowball Earth—a geologic era when glaciers may have stretched as far as the Equator—a new creature burst into existence: the multicellular organism.

phys.org

Researchers determine that crystal cells in fruit flies help transport oxygen throughout the body

A team of life scientists at Hanyang University, in Korea, working with a pair of colleagues from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, has found that fruit flies use crystal cells to transport oxygen throughout their bodies.

phys.org

Genetic switch in plants can turn simple spoon-shaped leaves into complex leaves with leaflets

The diversity of forms of living organisms is enormous. But how the individual cells together coordinate the formation of organs and tissues in complex organisms is still an open question.

phys.org

Earliest evidence of cave lions in southern Europe discovered

Cave lions lived in what is now Italy around 660,000 to 610,000 years ago. This is confirmed by a metatarsal bone from the Notarchirico site near Venosa in the Basilicata region, which was discovered during a re-examination of earlier finds. It is the oldest evidence to date of the now extinct...

phys.org

Do vertebrate populations really decline so much? Calculations indicating severe declines might be wrong, says study

A widely-used Living Planet Index (LPI) characterizes the average change in population sizes of vertebrates and is considered one of the main indicators of the state of the planet.

phys.org

Most pristine trilobite fossils ever found shake up scientific understanding of the long extinct group

Researchers have described some of the best-preserved three-dimensional trilobite fossils ever discovered. The fossils, which are more than 500 million years old, were collected in the High Atlas of Morocco and are being referred to by scientists as "Pompeii" trilobites due to their remarkable...

phys.org

New mathematical model sheds light on the absence of breastfeeding in male mammals

Being nursed by a single parent could be an evolutionary strategy to curb the spread of harmful microbes in mammals, according to a novel theory developed by mathematicians.

phys.org

Under pressure: How comb jellies have adapted to life at the bottom of the ocean

The bottom of the ocean is not hospitable. There is no light; the temperature is freezing cold; and the pressure of all the water above will literally crush you. The animals that live at this depth have developed biophysical adaptations that allow them to survive in these harsh conditions. What...

phys.org

From takeoff to flight, the wiring of a fly's nervous system is mapped

Work is underway on a wiring diagram of the motor circuits in the central nervous system that control muscles in fruit flies. This connectome, as the wiring diagram is called, is already providing detailed information on how the nerve coordination of leg movements differs from that controlling...

phys.org

Study reveals same genes that can drive cancer also guide neural-circuit growth

Many people are familiar with oncogenes—genes long known to be involved in cancers in humans, such as the gene Src. What's less widely understood is that oncogenes didn't evolve just to cause cancer in species, but rather to control events of normal growth and differentiation.

medicalxpress.com

Med-tech

New device inspired by python teeth may reduce the risk of rotator cuff re-tearing

Most people, when they think about pythons, visualize the huge snake constricting and swallowing victims whole. But did you know that pythons initially hold onto their prey with their sharp, backward-curving teeth?

medicalxpress.com

3D maps of diseased tissues at subcellular precision

Researchers in the Systems Biology Lab of Professor Nikolaus Rajewsky, at the Max Delbrück Center, have developed a spatial transcriptomics platform, called Open-ST, that enables scientists to reconstruct gene expression in cells within a tissue in three dimensions. The platform produces these...

phys.org

Gold nanoparticles kill cancer—but not as thought

Gold particles of the size of billionths of a meter are lethal to cancer cells. This fact has been known for a long time, as has a simple correlation: The smaller the nanoparticles used to fight the cancer cells, the faster they die. However, a more interesting, more complex picture of these...

phys.org

Study reveals significant differences in RNA editing between postmortem and living human brain

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have shed valuable light on the nuanced functions and intricate regulatory methods of RNA editing, a critical mechanism underlying brain development and disease.

medicalxpress.com

Creating supranormal hearing in mice

A study from Michigan Medicine's Kresge Hearing Research Institute was able to produce supranormal hearing in mice, while also supporting a hypothesis on the cause of hidden hearing loss in humans.

medicalxpress.com