Study explains bright radar reflections on Mars without liquid water

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Cornell University researchers have provided a simple and comprehensive—if less dramatic—explanation for bright radar reflections initially interpreted as liquid water beneath the ice cap on Mars’ south pole. Their simulations show that small variations in layers of water ice—too subtle for ground-penetrating radar instruments to resolve—can cause constructive interference between radar waves. Such interference can … Read more

New method for quieting the quantum world

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One of the biggest challenges in quantum technology and quantum sensing is “noise”–seemingly random environmental disturbances that can disrupt the delicate quantum states of qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information. Looking deeper at this issue, JILA Associate Fellow and University of Colorado Boulder Physics Assistant Professor Shuo Sun collaborated with Andrés Montoya-Castillo, Assistant Professor … Read more

Scientists unravel the electronic structure of promethium

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When element 61, also known as promethium, was first isolated by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1945, it completed the series of chemical elements known as lanthanides. However, aspects of the element’s exact chemical nature have remained a mystery until last year, when a team of scientists from ORNL … Read more

CRISPR increases gene expression for better photosynthesis

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A team from the Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) has produced an increase in gene expression in a food crop by changing its upstream regulatory DNA. While other studies have used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing to knock out or decrease the expression of genes, new research published in Science Advances is the … Read more

Scientists discover unforeseen vortex behavior in light particles

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Vortices are a common physical phenomenon. You find them in the structure of galaxies, tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as in a cup of tea, or water as it drains from the bathtub. Normally, vortices are formed when very fast-flowing air, water or another substance encounters an area with a slower flow. They are characterized … Read more

Theory of Everything

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The quest for a Theory of Everything (TOE) is one of the most ambitious scientific endeavors, aiming to unify all fundamental forces and particles in a single, all-encompassing theoretical framework. This grand vision seeks to bridge the gap between the two main pillars of modern physics: General Relativity, which describes the macroscopic world of gravity … Read more

Scientists simulate a hallmark of quantum gravity

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In a groundbreaking development at the intersection of quantum mechanics and general relativity, researchers have made significant strides toward unraveling the mysteries of quantum gravity. This work sheds new light on future experiments that hold promise for resolving one of the most fundamental enigmas in modern physics: the reconciliation of Einstein’s theory of gravity with … Read more

High-resolution ALMA observations reveal intricate details of giant molecular clouds in NGC 613

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Utilizing the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA), a collaborative team of astronomers has conducted a detailed examination of NGC 613, a nearby barred spiral galaxy. The findings, published on May 30 on the arXiv preprint server, provide significant insights into the giant molecular clouds (GMCs) populating the galaxy’s center. Molecular clouds are expansive regions of … Read more

Hungarian research revives paradise fish as a model for behavioral genetics

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Ethological research in Hungary is most often associated with studies on dogs, largely due to the extensive work conducted by researchers at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University. However, recent methodological advancements are shifting the focus towards a less conventional model: the paradise fish. These small, vibrant fish offer unique advantages, such as ease of handling and … Read more

Ancient Egyptian skulls offer evidence of possible cancer treatment

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From ancient texts we know that—for their times—the ancient Egyptians were exceptionally skilled at medicine. For example, they could identify, describe, and treat diseases and traumatic injuries, build protheses, and put in dental fillings. Other conditions, like cancer, they couldn’t treat—but they might have tried. Examining the limits of traumatological and oncological treatments in ancient … Read more

Earliest evidence of managed cattle herding found in Northern Europe

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Archaeologists have discovered evidence for the earliest cattle herds in northern Europe, at the site of Swifterbant in the Netherlands. Using a combination of zoological, botanical, and biochemical methods, they investigated the emergence of farming in northern Europe and found that, not only are these the earliest known domestic cattle, they were also managed in … Read more

Revolutionary carbon fiber electrocatalysts pave the way for affordable green hydrogen production

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A groundbreaking technology has been developed to address the limitations of current catalyst electrodes, facilitating the large-scale production of green hydrogen at a relatively low cost. This significant advancement was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The innovative project was led by Professor Han Gi Chae from the Department of Materials Science … Read more

Halogen bonds orchestrate ultrafast dynamics in multifunctional crystals

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Researchers have uncovered how the halogen bond can be exploited to direct sequential dynamics in multi-functional crystals, offering crucial insights for developing ultrafast-response times for multilevel optical storage. Halogen bonds are intermolecular interactions that arise from the attraction between a halogen atom (group 17 elements in the periodic table) and another atom with lone pairs, … Read more

Scientists discover slowest-spinning neutron star yet

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Australian scientists from the University of Sydney and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, have detected what is likely a neutron star spinning slower than any other ever measured. No other radio-emitting neutron star, out of the more than 3,000 discovered so far, has been discovered rotating so slowly. The results are published in Nature Astronomy. Lead author Dr. … Read more

Researchers discover skull of Australia’s megafauna bird

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After 128 years of exploration, fossil excavation and investigation, Flinders University researchers have finally uncovered the skull of Australia’s own giant and charismatic megafauna bird—Genyornis newtoni. The only previously known skull for this species, reported in 1913, was heavily damaged and with little of the original bone remaining, not much could be deduced about the … Read more

Puddle frog study reveals how climate change threatens genetically uniform species

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Scientists have studied puddle frogs to identify genetic variation hotspots and places where the climate crisis could wipe out populations too homogenous to adapt. Even widespread species could be genomically vulnerable to the climate crisis, scientists warn. By studying the DNA of puddle frogs living in central African rainforests, the scientists found that areas of … Read more

Researchers discover mechanism disrupting cell signaling pathways

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A group of researchers at University of California San Diego has identified the cause of a “short-circuit” in cellular pathways, a discovery that sheds new light on the genesis of a number of human diseases. The recent study, published in the journal Science Signaling, explores the biochemical mechanism that can interrupt the cellular communication chain—a … Read more

Frequent mowing may enhance resilience in silverleaf nightshade

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A study published in Scientific Reports has uncovered that frequent mowing of Solanum elaeagnifolium, commonly known as silverleaf nightshade, may inadvertently promote the development of a more resilient “superweed.” The problem with silverleaf nightshade Silverleaf nightshade, a pervasive weed with distinct purple flowers, is notorious for its prickly spines and toxic berries. Its presence spans … Read more

Climate change to worsen devastation by Xylella fastidiosa, wine regions most at risk

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Xylella fastidiosa, the deadly disease-causing bacterium that has already wiped out millions of plants of emblematic Mediterranean crops, like grapevines, olive-trees and almond-trees, by clogging their ducts and plant tissues, will get a boost from climate change in relevant wine-producing regions where the risk is low at present. Researchers at the Institute of Cross-disciplinary Physics … Read more