Sociable receptors: In pairs, in groups or in a crowd
When cells migrate in the body, for instance, during development, or when neurons establish new connections, cells need to know where they are going. A 'wrong turn' will generally cause disease or...
View ArticleBallistic transport in graphene suggests new type of electronic device
Using electrons more like photons could provide the foundation for a new type of electronic device that would capitalize on the ability of graphene to carry electrons with almost no resistance even at...
View ArticleNew measurement of electron–quark scattering
From matching wings on butterflies to the repeating six-point pattern of snowflakes, symmetries echo through nature, even down to the smallest building blocks of matter. Since the discovery of quarks,...
View ArticleA 'smoking gun' on the Ice Age megafauna extinctions
It was climate that killed many of the large mammals after the latest Ice Age. But what more specifically was it with the climate that led to this mass extinction? The answer to this is hidden in a...
View ArticleMake supply chains climate-smart, Nature Commentary says
Extreme weather events like super-typhoon Haiyan and hurricane Sandy can have major negative impacts on the world economy. So far, however, the effects on global production and consumption webs are...
View ArticleResearchers discover rare new species of deep-diving whale
Researchers have identified a new species of mysterious beaked whale based on the study of seven animals stranded on remote tropical islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans over the past 50 years.
View ArticleLongevity mutation found in flies far and wide
For years, researchers have been investigating how mutations of a gene called Indy (for "I'm Not Dead Yet") affect metabolism, life span, and reproductive fitness in both mammals and fruit flies. So...
View ArticleResearchers accuse Apple of infringing on patent
A thin piece of silicon lodged in the latest iPhone and iPad is at heart of a lawsuit the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has filed against Apple Inc.
View ArticleFacebook hopes iPhone users keep eyes glued to Paper app
If you want to get a glimpse of Facebook's future, download Paper, the social network's new mobile news reader.
View ArticleSupercomputer simulations shed light on formation, explosion of stars in...
Ab initio: "From the beginning." It's a term used in science to describe calculations that rely on established mathematical laws of nature, or "first principles," without additional assumptions or...
View ArticleCrossover sound: Unambiguous evidence for coherent phonons in superlattices
We all learn in high school science about the dual nature of light - that it exists as both waves and quantum particles called photons. It is this duality of light that enables the coherent transport...
View ArticleEarly universe 'warmed up' later than previously believed, study finds
A new study from Tel Aviv University reveals that black holes, formed from the first stars in our universe, heated the gas throughout space later than previously thought. They also imprinted a clear...
View ArticleTwitter takes hit as user growth disappoints (Update 2)
Twitter got a reality check Wednesday as the high-flying messaging company reported modest user growth during a quarter in which it lost $511 million.
View ArticleNASA Mars orbiter examines dramatic new crater
(Phys.org) —Space rocks hitting Mars excavate fresh craters at a pace of more than 200 per year, but few new Mars scars pack as much visual punch as one seen in a NASA image released today.
View ArticleNASA boards the 3-D-manufacturing train
Given NASA's unique needs for highly customized spacecraft and instrument components, additive manufacturing, or "3-D printing," offers a compelling alternative to more traditional manufacturing...
View ArticleFemale mice prefer unfamiliar male songs
Female mice prefer songs of mice that are different from their parents when selecting a mate, according to a study published February 5, 2014 in PLOS ONE by Akari Asaba from the Azabu University,...
View ArticleMass extinction may not cause all organisms to 'shrink'
The sizes of organisms following mass extinction events may vary more than previously thought, which may be inconsistent with the predictions of the so-called 'Lilliput effect,' according to a study...
View ArticleAmazonian drought conditions add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
(Phys.org) —International study combines aircraft and ground data to measure the "breath" of the Amazon forest
View ArticleTree roots in the mountains 'acted like a thermostat' for millions of years
Tree roots in the mountains may play an important role in controlling long-term global temperatures. Researchers have found that temperatures affect the thickness of the leaf litter and organic soil...
View ArticleMystery giant jellyfish washes up in Australia
Scientists were on Thursday working to classify a new species of giant jellyfish that washed up on an Australian beach, describing it as a "whopper" that took their breath away.
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