PHYSorg · Page 17

A team of marine biologists at the University of North Carolina and Duke University has found humpback whales have poorer eyesight than previously assumed. In their study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group dissected and…

Mitochondria turn the food we eat into the energy our cells can use. But when stress hijacks the process they use to maintain their quality, they get snipped into useless fragments and go into a tailspin that spreads from cell to cell and triggers a wide range…

Ammonia released from penguin guano may help to reduce the effects of climate change in Antarctica by contributing to increased cloud formation, according to an analysis published in Communications Earth & Environment. The conclusion is the result of…

When you think of gulls in Auckland you probably picture a large black-backed pirate, swooping down to snatch hot chips at the beach. That bird is the karoro—the Southern black-backed gull (Larus dominicanus). While often overlooked, new research is…

Birth rates are declining worldwide, while dog parenting practices are gaining popularity. What does this growing "furry children" trend reveal about our societies?

Coral reefs are vital to marine biodiversity, but their livelihood is under threat due to climate instability and the impacts of human activities.

A new University of Florida study published in HortScience shows how drones can do more than just take aerial pictures and videos—they can help farmers grow better hemp by seeing the health of their crops with some artificial intelligence assistance.

Cholera bacteria aren't just battling antibiotics and public health measures—they are also constantly under attack from bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect and kill bacteria. These viruses don't just influence individual infections; they can make or…

Soft-bodied robots are unlocking a new era of adaptive machines that can safely interact with the human body, squeeze through tight spaces, and propel themselves autonomously.

New research examining 11,700 years of bowhead whale persistence throughout the Arctic projects that sea ice loss due to climate change will cause their habitat to severely contract by up to 75%.

A massive shark washed up on a Cape Cod beach this week, as researchers try to figure out what led to the shark getting stranded.

A review from Murdoch University has stressed that agricultural soils now hold around 23 times more microplastics than oceans. Among the revelations in the comprehensive evaluation is that plastics in soil may be exposed to up to 10,000 chemical additives,…

On a recent warm May day, bundles of small sun-kissed-colored fruit droop from a towering tree in Raffy Espiritu's backyard in Milpitas. They soak in the light and ripen in the heat before suddenly splitting from the branches at the slightest tug of Espiritu's…

A pair of studies from North Carolina State University looked for biomarkers and genetic markers of a syndrome associated with skull malformations common in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS) and other toy breeds. The findings could lead to better targeted…

No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawnmower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor's lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than…

A research team led by Prof. Li Yunhai from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered a previously hidden mechanism that regulates rice grain size—a key determinant of crop yield and quality.

All of the world's wine-growing regions have been impacted by climate change, but with unequal impacts that vary across the growing season, reports a new study by E.M. Wolkovich of the University of British Columbia and colleagues, published in the journal…

New research from the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge has shed light on how plants precisely control their growth and development, revealing that seemingly similar molecular components fulfill surprisingly different jobs.

How do insects perceive mechanical stress? This is a question of interest in many different fields, including comparative morphology, neurobiology and robotics.

As a strictly protected species, sand lizards are dependent on the preservation of their habitats—especially in view of declining populations in Germany. Sand lizards sometimes find ideal living conditions along railway lines—as a new study published in…