physorg.com:Spotlight stories

Ancient DNA reveals deeply complex Mastodon family and repeated migrations driven by climate change An ancient DNA analysis of the remains of several mastodons, including those which roamed along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America, has revealed the Ice Age giants migrated vast distances in response to shifting climates and were far more genetically diverse than previously known.
Measuring the quantum W state: Seeing a trio of entangled photons in one go The concept of quantum entanglement is emblematic of the gap between classical and quantum physics. Referring to a situation in which it is impossible to describe the physics of each photon separately, this key characteristic of quantum mechanics defies the classical expectation that each particle should have a reality of its own, which gravely concerned Einstein.
By working together, cells can extend their senses beyond their direct environment The story of the princess and the pea evokes an image of a highly sensitive young royal woman so refined, she can sense a pea under a stack of mattresses. When it comes to human biology, it also takes an abnormal individual to sense far beyond its surroundings, in this case, a cancer cell. Now, researchers also know that normal cells can pull a similar trick by working together.
New quantum sensors can withstand extreme pressure The world of quantum physics is already mysterious, but what happens when that strange realm of subatomic particles is put under immense pressure? Observing quantum effects under pressure has proven difficult for a simple reason: Designing sensors that can withstand extreme forces is challenging.
Fluorescent 'zoom lens' exposes hidden protein changes for earlier disease detection A novel strategy developed at Rice University allows scientists to zoom in on tiny segments of proteins inside living cells, revealing localized environmental changes that could indicate the earliest stages of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cancer. The study, published in Nature Chemical Biology on Sept. 10, also shows promise for drug screening that targets protein aggregation diseases.
Nanoscale images of protein complex reveal secret to blood clotting chain reaction If you've ever accidentally sliced yourself on broken glass or a piece of paper, you may have noticed that the bleeding can be hard to stop. Scientists have long wondered how the cascade of events that leads to blood clotting is triggered, especially since the process has life and death consequences. Too little clotting and you bleed out, while too much can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Atomic-level engineering enables new alloys that won't break in extreme cold Navigating the extreme cold of deep space or handling super-chilled liquid fuels here on Earth requires materials that won't break. Most metals become brittle and fracture at such low temperatures. However, new research is pioneering an approach to build metal structures atom by atom to create tough and durable alloys that can withstand such harsh environments.
Ditches as waterways: Managing 'ditch-scapes' to strengthen communities and the environment Ditches are all around: along roads, through neighborhoods, across fields and marshes. These human-made waterways are so common that they can be easy to miss. A new literature review published in Communications Earth & Environment calls on the public to pay more attention to this often neglected resource, one that could advance sustainability goals and benefit local communities with modern ditch management strategies.
New metrics indicate habitat fragmentation has increased in over half the world's forests over the last 20 years Deforestation is a well-known issue affecting biodiversity and carbon storage, but the fragmentation of forests is also a driving factor in the reduction of the world's biodiversity and carbon-storing abilities.
Synthetic magnetic fields steer light on a chip for faster communications Electrons in a magnetic field can display striking behaviors, from the formation of discrete energy levels to the quantum Hall effect. These discoveries have shaped our understanding of quantum materials and topological phases of matter. Light, however, is made of neutral particles and does not naturally respond to magnetic fields in the same way. This has limited the ability of researchers to reproduce such effects in optical systems, particularly at the high frequencies used in modern communications.
Who shows up in times of need? High school extracurriculars offer clues Are nerds the caring ones? High school stereotypes suggest that athletes score more popularity points than marching band members, debaters or leaders in the student council, but research from Rutgers finds that so-called "geeky" activities may do more to cultivate compassion in the long run.
Researchers reveal molecular assembly and efficient light harvesting of largest eukaryotic photosystem complex Coccolithophores are a type of single-celled microalgae that fix CO2 into organic matter and precipitate calcium carbonate, profoundly shaping ocean optics, carbon export, and long-term carbon storage. They are major contributors to ocean photosynthesis, especially in temperate and open-ocean waters.
Laser reveals sound from supersonic molecules in near-space cold conditions What happens when you hurl molecules faster than sound through a vacuum chamber nearly as cold as space itself? At the University of Missouri, researchers are finding out—and discovering new ways to detect molecules under extreme conditions.
Planets without plate tectonics and too little carbon dioxide could mean that technological alien life is rare The closest technological species to us in the Milky Way galaxy could be 33,000 light years away and their civilization would have to be at least 280,000 years, and possibly millions of years, old if they are to exist at the same time that we do, according to new research presented at the EPSC–DPS2025 Joint Meeting in Helsinki this week.
Amino acids act as 'anti-salt': New insight into how small molecules stabilize proteins Biologists have long known that amino acids can help stabilize proteins, for example as additives to pharmaceutical formulations. In trying to understand why this works, EPFL and MIT researchers have discovered a fundamental stabilizing effect of all small molecules, creating exciting possibilities for controlling particles in solution.