145 articles from WEDNESDAY 3.5.2023

A new look at Mars’ moon Deimos highlights its mysterious origin

Stunning new views of Deimos, one of Mars’ two strange moons, hint at questions about how the martian moons formed in the first place — and why they are still in orbit around Mars today. These questions have perplexed scientists since the discovery of the martian moons Phobos and Deimos almost 150 years ago. The latest photographsContinue reading "A new look at Mars’ moon Deimos...

Study shows cigarette butts leak deadly toxins into the environment

Cigarette filters are the world's most common form of litter. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg can now show that the filters leak thousands of toxins and plastic fibers that are toxic to aquatic larvae. The researchers are therefore calling for these filters to be completely banned.

Astronomers capture moment distant planet was swallowed by star

Scientists believe planet the size of Jupiter plunged into star, causing ‘insanely bright’ burst of lightAstronomers have witnessed the intense burst of light from a planet being swallowed by its host star, the same dramatic fate that awaits Earth when the sun expands rapidly near the end of its life.It is the first time researchers have captured the moment when an ageing star swells so much...

Solved at last: the mystery of why champagne bubbles go straight up

Flavour molecules cause champagne bubbles to rise in straight line – unlike those in other drinksFrom the pop of its cork to its delicate golden hue, champagne has many features that make it a celebratory tipple – but none are as recognisable as its fine fizz.Now researchers have shed new light on the quintessential sparkle, revealing why champagne bubbles rise in a straight line, unlike those...

Astronomers witness star devouring a planet: Possible preview of the ultimate fate of Earth

By studying countless stars at various stages of their evolution, astronomers have been able to piece together an understanding of the life cycle of stars and how they interact with their surrounding planetary systems as they age. This research confirms that when a sun-like star nears the end of its life, it expands anywhere from 100 to 1,000 times its original size, eventually engulfing the...

Why do champagne bubbles rise in a straight trajectory?

Here are some scientific findings worthy of a toast: Researchers from Brown University and the University of Toulouse in France have explained why bubbles in champagne fizz up in a straight line while bubbles in other carbonated drinks, like beer or soda, don't.

Researchers capture elusive missing step in the final act of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis plays a crucial role in shaping and sustaining life on Earth, yet many aspects of the process remain a mystery. One such mystery is how photosystem II, a protein complex in plants, algae and cyanobacteria, harvests energy from sunlight and uses it to split water, producing the oxygen we breathe. Now researchers from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory...

Scientists recover an ancient woman's DNA from a 20,000-year-old pendant

Artifacts made of stone, bones or teeth provide important insights into the subsistence strategies of early humans, their behavior and culture. However, until now it has been difficult to attribute these artifacts to specific individuals, since burials and grave goods were very rare in the Paleolithic. This has limited the possibilities of drawing conclusions about, for example, division of labor...

A dying star consumes a planet, foreshadowing Earth’s fate

For the first time, astronomers have observed a dying star billowing up and swallowing one of its planets—just as the Sun will someday consume Earth. Researchers spotted the event some 12,000 light-years away in the constellation Aquila while searching for the fireworks associated with stellar mergers. The relatively minor cataclysm, which flared only 1/1000th as brightly as a binary...

High-throughput experiments might ensure a better diagnosis of hereditary diseases

All human beings are genetically very similar, sharing approx. 99.9% of the DNA code. The remaining 0.1% explains the natural differences between people, including our predisposition to hereditary diseases. Although sequencing of our genetic material is becoming a routine diagnostic analysis, it is unfortunately far from simple to determine whether specific small differences in our DNA affect our...

What does it take to thrive in cities, if you're a bird?

A UCLA-led research team created an 'urban association index' that describes how closely bird species are associated with living in urban settings. With more of the planet being consumed by urbanization, the scientists write that a dramatic loss of biodiversity is likely unless there are practical plans to preserve it. Urban bird species tend to be smaller and less territorial and have greater...

Fossils or not? Nations split on how to meet climate goals

Senior officials from dozens of nations meeting in Berlin remained divided Wednesday on how to meet international climate goals, with some pushing for a phase-out of fossil fuels and others insisting that oil and gas can continue to play a role in the future—provided their emissions are somehow contained.

'Gluing' soft materials without glue

If you're a fan of arts and crafts, you're likely familiar with the messy, sticky, frustration-inducing nature of liquid glues. But researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces now have a brand-new way to weld squishy stuff together without the need for glue at all. They've demonstrated a universal, "electroadhesion" technique that can adhere soft materials to each other just by...

Addressing the growing threat of fungal infections to global food security

Worldwide, growers lose between 10 and 23% of their crops to fungal infection each year, despite widespread use of antifungals. An additional 10 to 20% post harvest. In a commentary in Nature, academics predict those figures are projected to worsen as global warming means fungal infections are steadily moving polewards, meaning more countries are likely to see a higher prevalence of fungal...

Caught in the Act: Astronomers Detect a Star Devouring a Planet

Portal origin URL: Caught in the Act: Astronomers Detect a Star Devouring a PlanetPortal origin nid: 486995Published: Wednesday, May 3, 2023 - 10:14Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: A star nearing the end of its life swelled up and absorbed a Jupiter-size planet. In about 5 billion years, our Sun will go through a similar end-of-life transition.Portal...

Examining how cooperation benefits from peer-punishment

A multi-lab replication of a 2006 study supports the role of peer sanction in promoting human cooperation. Cooperation is imperative for society to successfully solve complex problems, including climate change. One approach many groups have adopted is a system of peer sanctions for noncooperators.