New research challenges two prevailing theories on how Maya civilization began
The Maya civilization is well-known for its elaborate temples, sophisticated writing system, and mathematical and astronomical developments, yet the civilization's origins remain something of a mystery.
View ArticleLight switches brain signaling: Longer days bring 'winter blues' for rats
Most of us are familiar with the "winter blues," the depression-like symptoms known as "seasonal affective disorder," or SAD, that occurs when the shorter days of winter limit our exposure to natural...
View ArticleThe Earth's center is 1,000 degrees hotter than previously thought
Scientists have determined the temperature near the Earth's centre to be 6000 degrees Celsius, 1000 degrees hotter than in a previous experiment run 20 years ago. These measurements confirm geophysical...
View ArticleEinstein's gravity theory passes toughest test yet: Bizarre binary star...
(Phys.org) —A strange stellar pair nearly 7,000 light-years from Earth has provided physicists with a unique cosmic laboratory for studying the nature of gravity. The extremely strong gravity of a...
View ArticleKeeping beverages cool in summer: It's not just the heat, it's the humidity
(Phys.org) —Those drops on the outside of your drink don't just make the can slippery. Experiments show that in hot, humid weather, condensation heats a drink more than the surrounding air.
View ArticleNew imaging technology could reveal cellular secrets
(Phys.org) —Researchers have married two biological imaging technologies, creating a new way to learn how good cells go bad.
View ArticleCassini observes meteors colliding with Saturn's rings
(Phys.org) —NASA's Cassini spacecraft has provided the first direct evidence of small meteoroids breaking into streams of rubble and crashing into Saturn's rings. These observations make Saturn's rings...
View ArticleTracking gunfire with a smartphone
(Phys.org) —You are walking down the street with a friend. A shot is fired. The two of you duck behind the nearest cover and you pull out your smartphone. A map of the neighborhood pops up on its...
View ArticleBreath study brings roadside drug testing closer
(Phys.org) —A group of researchers from Sweden have provided further evidence that illegal drugs can be detected in the breath, opening up the possibility of a roadside breathalyzer test to detect...
View ArticleToyota, Microsoft beef up Gazoo.com Net service
Toyota is teaming up with Microsoft for an Internet service that links cars, home computers and smartphones so users can find nearby tourist spots, connect on social networks and learn about new models.
View ArticleResearch sheds light on how patterns form in bird feathers
(Phys.org) —A new study by scientists in the U.S. and Taiwan has shown that birds have colorful and patterned feathers because of specific cellular interactions involving stem cells rather than through...
View ArticleLG Electronics HMD patent sets sights on video viewing
(Phys.org) —Such a concept: outputting currently-displayed content of a user's digital device to an HMD. But there is an added nuance where the video follows you no matter where you look. LG...
View ArticleScientists discover new way protein degradation is regulated
(Phys.org) —Proteins, unlike diamonds, aren't forever. And when they wear out, they need to be degraded in the cell back into amino acids, where they will be recycled into new proteins. Researchers at...
View ArticleResearchers find without microtubule guidance, cellulose causes changes in...
(Phys.org) —Mathematics is everywhere in nature, and this is illustrated by the spiral patterns in plants such as pine cones, sunflowers or the arrangement of leaves around a stem. Most plants produce...
View ArticleWind power—even without the wind
Offshore wind could provide abundant electricity—but as with solar energy, this power supply can be intermittent and unpredictable. But a new approach from researchers at MIT could mitigate that...
View ArticleGreat balls of iron: Researchers uncover clue to bird navigation
(Phys.org) —Every year millions of birds make heroic migratory journeys across oceans and continents guided by the Earth's magnetic field. How they detect those magnetic fields has puzzled scientists...
View ArticleGraphene layers dramatically reduce wear and friction on sliding steel surfaces
(Phys.org) —Sometimes, all it takes is an extremely small amount of material to make a big difference. Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have recently discovered that they could substitute...
View ArticleNew view of how embryos develop: Imaging technique allows researchers to see...
(Phys.org) —In a factory, outside forces dictate the assembly of parts. Robots lift widgets from trays, assemble them and send them on their way. Even though embryos are not factories, theories about...
View ArticleControlling proton source speeds catalyst in turning electricity to fuel
(Phys.org) —A new catalyst is faster when it and its surrounding acid have the same proton affinity or pKa, according to scientists at the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier...
View ArticleResearchers at IceCube detect record energy neutrinos
(Phys.org) —Researchers at the Antarctic research station IceCube are reporting that they've detected the highest ever energy neutrinos ever observed. In their paper they've uploaded to the preprint...
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