‘Quantum negativity’ can power ultra-precise measurements
Scientists have found that a physical property called 'quantum negativity' can be used to take more precise measurements of everything from molecular distances to...
Solving materials problems with a quantum computer
Quantum computers have enormous potential for calculations using novel algorithms and involving amounts of data far beyond the capacity of today's supercomputers. While such...
A plunge in incoming sunlight may have triggered ‘Snowball Earths’
At least twice in Earth's history, nearly the entire planet was encased in a sheet of snow and ice. These dramatic "Snowball Earth" events...
Decline of bees, other pollinators threatens US crop yields
Crop yields for apples, cherries and blueberries across the United States are being reduced by a lack of pollinators, according to Rutgers-led research, the...
Metal-breathing bacteria could transform electronics, biosensors, and more
When the Shewanella oneidensis bacterium "breathes" in certain metal and sulfur compounds anaerobically, the way an aerobic organism would process oxygen, it produces materials...
Dead star emits never-before seen mix of radiation
A global collaboration of telescopes including ESA's Integral high-energy space observatory has detected a unique mix of radiation bursting from a dead star in...
Probing the properties of magnetic quasi-particles
Researchers have for the first time measured a fundamental property of magnets called magnon polarization—and in the process, are making progress towards building low-energy...
Oldest South American fossil lizard discovered in Brazil
Fossil remains of a novel species of lizard that lived more than 130 million years ago have been found in the north of Minas...
Alaska is getting wetter. That’s bad news for permafrost and the climate
Alaska is getting wetter. A new study spells out what that means for the permafrost that underlies about 85% of the state, and the...
Machine learning reveals recipe for building artificial proteins
Proteins are essential to the life of cells, carrying out complex tasks and catalyzing chemical reactions. Scientists and engineers have long sought to harness...
Wrong number of fingers leads down wrong track
Have you ever wondered why human hands have five fingers? And what about amphibians? They usually only have four. Until now, researchers assumed that...
