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55 articles from PhysOrg

Implementation of school-based well-being programs benefits from multiple voices, says study

Health and well-being education can be an important addition to a school curriculum. But for these programs to be effective, they must be delivered in a way that works for everyone, including students, instructors, and school administrators. A new study from University of Illinois evaluates the implementation of two prevention programs, using a mixed-methods approach with input from multiple...

Study finds neighborhood apps increase perceptions of crime rates

How often do you glance at your neighborhood app, like Nextdoor or others, and learn about some crime in your area? Surely, it was not the intention of the app developers, but every time you hear of a crime nearby, you might think that crime in your area is rampant. A new study by a University of Houston psychologist indicates that is exactly how the mind works—those helpful and popular...

Exploring bonds and electronic structure in plutonium hybrid materials

Understanding the arrangement of electrons in compounds containing actinide elements, such as uranium and plutonium, can help advance the design of next-generation nuclear materials. These elements are challenging to study due to their complex chemistry and radioactivity. Additionally, these elements, which are in a sequence of related elements called the actinide series, have electrons that are...

In the tropics, woody vines may make lightning more deadly for forests

Many tropical forests are experiencing increases in lightning and lianas, thanks in part to global change. This one-two punch is likely causing an increase in the death of small trees, which could lead to shifts in composition of tropical forests and their ability to store carbon. A paper in the journal New Phytologist reports on this development.

Advanced electrode to help remediation of stubborn new 'forever chemicals'

As new environmental regulations are rolling out to mitigate the industry-retired long-chain chemicals known as PFAS in drinking water, there are concerns regarding a new breed of "forever chemicals" called short-chain PFAS. Research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is helping shift the focus to include mitigation of the chemicals—which researchers say are just as persistent as,...

The Greenland Ice Sheet is close to a melting point of no return, says new study

The Greenland Ice Sheet covers 1.7 million square kilometers (660,200 square miles) in the Arctic. If it melts entirely, global sea level would rise about 7 meters (23 feet), but scientists aren't sure how quickly the ice sheet could melt. Modeling tipping points, which are critical thresholds where a system behavior irreversibly changes, helps researchers find out when that melt might occur.

A machine learning framework to predict and quantify synthesis difficulties for designer chromosomes

Artificially synthesizing genomes has broad prospects in fields such as medical research and developing industrial strains. From the synthesis of the artificial life JCVI-syn1.0 by Craig Venter's team in 2010, to the rewriting and synthesis of the prokaryotic E. coli genome, and to the Sc2.0 project's artificial synthesis of the yeast genome, researchers are constantly advancing in the depth and...

Biologists develop new record bright red fluorescent protein

To understand why a cell divides, secretes hormones or transmits a signal to another cell, biologists often use a trick. They attach colored lights to the proteins of interest, so that they can follow the movements and interactions of those proteins in living cells under the microscope. The more colors of these lights are available, the more processes they can follow at the same time.

Scientists use serial crystallography to enhance 'molecular movies' and shed light on antibiotic resistance

Eadweard Muybridge's electrifying photos of a galloping horse set the world on fire when he created the precursor to what became motion pictures. For today's scientists, a new upgrade to one of the world's most powerful hard X-ray light sources could improve the way molecular movies are made. These could reveal hidden secrets of different chemicals, potentially paving the way for new treatments...

James Webb Space Telescope confirms giant planet atmospheres vary widely

Gas giants orbiting our sun show a clear pattern; the more massive the planet, the lower the percentage of "heavy" elements (anything other than hydrogen and helium) in the planet's atmosphere. But out in the galaxy, the atmospheric compositions of giant planets do not fit the solar system trend, an international team of astronomers has found.