"Exploring the possibility of probing fundamental spacetime symmetries via gravitational wave memory."

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Russ Roberts (https://Hawaii science journal.blogspot.com).

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Exploring the possibility of probing fundamental spacetime symmetries via gravitational wave memory

200+Phys.org / 18h

As predicted by the theory of general relativity, the passage of gravitational waves can leave a measurable change in the relative positions of objects. This physical phenomenon, known as gravitational wave memory, could potentially be leveraged to study both gravitational waves and spacetime.

Alaska's top-heavy glaciers are approaching an irreversible tipping point

44Phys.org / 11h

The melting of one of North America's largest icefields has accelerated and could soon reach an irreversible tipping point. That's the conclusion of new research colleagues and I have published on the Juneau Icefield, which straddles the Alaska-Canada border near the Alaskan capital of Juneau.

High-selectivity graphene membranes enhance CO₂ capture efficiency

21Phys.org / 15h

Reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is a crucial step towards mitigating climate change and protecting the environment on Earth. One proposed technology for reducing CO₂ emissions, particularly from power plants and industrial establishments, is carbon capture.

TODAY

We mapped the entire bilby genome—and now we can use poo to save Australia's 'Easter bunny' from extinction

Phys.org / 15h

Commonly known as Australia's "Easter bunny" due to its large ears and hopping movement, the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is the last of its kind. Today we published its reference genome—all 3.66 billion pieces of it.

Oldest living culture: Our new research shows an Indigenous ritual passed down for 500 generations

Phys.org / 18h

We often hear that Aboriginal peoples have been in Australia for 65,000 years, "the oldest living cultures in the world." But what does this mean, given all living peoples on Earth have an ancestry that goes back into the mists of time?

YESTERDAY

California fires spread in July 4 weekend heat wave

Phys.org / 22h

California firefighters battled multiple blazes in record heat Friday, with a new fire breaking out near the famous Yosemite National Park even as a larger inferno further north came under control.

Beryl heads for Texas after causing damage, no deaths in Mexico

Phys.org / 22h

Beryl weakened to a tropical storm Friday after hitting Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane, with fierce winds causing material damage but no injuries along the touristic Yucatan Peninsula.

Pongamia trees grow where citrus once flourished, offering renewable energy and plant-based protein

Phys.org / 22h

An ancient tree from India is now thriving in groves where citrus trees once flourished in Florida, and could help provide the nation with renewable energy.

A prototype superconducting coil opens the way for more energy-efficient electromagnets

Phys.org / 1d

How can we advance cutting-edge research but consume less energy? CERN's scientists are working on innovative solutions, and superconductivity is one of the key ingredients.

Mathematical method for spectral density estimation set to unlock ocean mysteries

Phys.org / 1d

Researchers at The University of Western Australia's ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Transforming Energy Infrastructure through Digital Engineering (TIDE) have made a significant mathematical breakthrough that could help transform ocean research and technology.

Study finds limited highlighting boosts reading comprehension

Phys.org / 1d

If you scroll through the average student's digital textbook or reading, you will probably see multi-colored streaks scattered everywhere. However, new research reveals that excessive highlighting may do more harm than good.

Researchers reveal how plants protect themselves from viral infection by regulating deacetylation

Phys.org / 1d

In a paper published in Science Bulletin, a team of Chinese scientists demonstrated that TaSRT2 recognized viral protein P153 and induced wheat resistance to CWMV through inhibition of the TaSRT2-mediated deacetylation of H3K9ac and H3K79ac, which eventually activated the expression of defense-related genes TaLRR1, TaRGA3, and TaWRKY41.

Study shows current strategies are ineffective in controlling Salmonella Dublin in Danish cattle

Phys.org / 1d

In a recent study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, researchers from the Complexity Science Hub (CSH), the University of Copenhagen, and SEGES have shown that despite stringent movement restrictions among Danish cattle farms, Salmonella Dublin continues to propagate, indicating that current strategies are insufficient to curb the spread of the disease.

Should we ditch big exam halls? Research shows how high ceilings are associated with a lower score

Phys.org / 1d

Can you remember your last in-person exam? You're waiting outside the venue with your identification, pens and back-up pens. Everyone is nervously looking at their notes or avoiding eye contact.

Starlings' migratory behavior found to be inherited, not learned

84Phys.org / 1d

Young, naïve starlings are looking for their wintering grounds independently of experienced conspecifics. Starlings are highly social birds throughout the year, but this does not mean that they copy the migration route from each other.

Webb captures a staggering quasar-galaxy merger in the remote universe

100+Phys.org / 1d

An international research group led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and comprising 34 research institutes and universities worldwide utilized the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on board the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to witness the dramatic interaction between a quasar inside the PJ308–21 system and two massive satellite galaxies in the distant universe.

Repurposed technology used to probe new regions of Mars' atmosphere

100+Phys.org / 1d

Using the repurposed equipment, a team including Imperial College London researchers have measured parts of the Martian atmosphere that were previously impossible to probe. This includes areas that can block radio signals if not properly accounted for—crucial for future Mars habitation missions.

Whether children lie depends on the social environment, says study

Phys.org / 1d

Everyone lies—some more, some less. Children are no different. An international team of economists has now investigated the influence of the parental home and upbringing on a child's propensity to lie.

Researchers reveal how myrtle rust pathogen breaks into a host plant

Phys.org / 1d

A recent study looking at the molecular foundation of myrtle rust reveals how the pathogen breaks into a host plant and how the host plant responds. This insight will inform the design of useful tools to prevent future break-ins and safeguard plant health.

Evidence shows ancient Saudi Arabia had complex and thriving communities, not struggling people in a barren land

300+Phys.org / 1d

To date, little has been known about people living in north-western Saudi Arabia during the Neolithic—the period traditionally defined by the shift to humans controlling food production and settling into communities with agriculture and domesticated animals.

Young people feeling robbed of their youth, new report finds

Phys.org / 1d

A new report from the Monash Center for Youth Policy and Education Practice (CYPEP), has found that young people are missing out on being young.

To save bees, scientists say focus on habitat first, then pesticides

Phys.org / 1d

Worldwide, hedgerows and wild grass in field margins which previously served as semi-natural habitats are being swallowed up into agricultural production. While scientists have suggested both pesticide use and habitat loss are detrimental to pollinators, their relative impacts have been unclear.

Research finds humpbacks were happier during pandemic pause

63Phys.org / 1d

University of Queensland-led research has found migrating humpback whales off Australia's east coast became less stressed over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research paper is published in Marine Environmental Research.

Webb admires bejeweled ring of the lensed quasar RX J1131-1231

100+Phys.org / 1d

This new picture of the month from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope features the gravitational lensing of the quasar known as RX J1131-1231, located roughly six billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Crater.

Losing count: The mathematical magic of counting curves

Phys.org / 1d

How can you figure out which points lie on a certain curve? And how many possible curves do you count by a given number of points? These are the kinds of questions Pim Spelier of the Mathematical Institute studied during his Ph.D. research. Spelier received his doctorate with distinction on June 12.

EarthCARE offers a sneak peek into Earth's energy balance

Phys.org / 1d

Offering a foretaste of what's to come once it is fully commissioned, ESA's EarthCARE satellite has returned the first images from its broadband radiometer instrument. These initial images offer a tantalizing glimpse into the intricacies of our planet's energy balance—a delicate balance that governs our climate.

Tomato timekeeper: SlNF-YA3b gene's role in flowering time revealed

Phys.org / 1d

Controlling the timing of flowering in crops is crucial for optimizing yields and adapting to climate changes. Researchers have identified a specific gene in tomatoes that regulates this critical phase, providing a significant step forward in the ability to fine-tune agricultural practices and enhance productivity.

Pear-derived discovery: A genetic mechanism to fortify crops against drought

Phys.org / 1d

A recent study has shed light on a critical genetic mechanism that boosts plants' ability to withstand drought. The research uncovers the role of the transcription factor PbERF3, native to wild pears, which works in concert with the protein PbHsfC1a to regulate genes key to drought tolerance.

Researchers demonstrate economical process for the synthesis and purification of ionic liquids

60Phys.org / 1d

Recently, a team of researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, and Chonnam National University has developed a technique to separate well-mixed mixtures.

New probe reveals water-ice microstructures

100+Phys.org / 1d

Ice is believed to have played a crucial role in the emergence of life. One reason is that organic molecules can be excluded into the gaps between the crystal lattice by orderly arranged water molecules, leading to the concentration of organic compounds.

Satellite images show deforestation toll of Indonesia mines

Phys.org / 1d

More than 700,000 hectares of forest in Indonesia have been cleared for mining since 2001, including large tracts of primary forest, a new analysis using satellite data has found.

Researchers pioneer new methods in ultrafast science for sharper molecular movies

100+Phys.org / 1d

Imagine being able to watch the inner workings of a chemical reaction or a material as it changes and reacts to its environment—that's the sort of thing researchers can do with a high-speed "electron camera" called the Megaelectronvolt Ultrafast Electron Diffraction (MeV-UED) instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at the U.S. Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laborator

Painting roofs white helps lower city heat, studies say

Phys.org / 1d

White or reflective paint is more effective at cooling cities than covering roofs in solar panels or greenery, scientists say, and could offer some relief on extremely hot summer days.

How listening for the right buzz keeps mosquitoes from mating with the wrong species

100+Phys.org / 1d

Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan have uncovered how the yellow fever mosquito and Asian tiger mosquito distinguish their own species from others. Males from these species listen for the specific frequencies of sound made by the flapping wings of females and use these sounds to select their own species.

Mexico prepares for Hurricane Beryl landfall

Phys.org / 1d

Tourist resorts in Mexico steeled Friday for a hit from Hurricane Beryl, which is expected to bring ferocious winds and a dangerous storm surge to the Yucatan Peninsula after slamming Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Study demonstrates how a simple metric could steer global economy towards halting and reversing biodiversity loss

Phys.org / 1d

Businesses are keenly aware that consumers value ethical business practices, including the protection of biodiversity, and many have committed to biodiversity conservation. A road block, however, turns out to be the large variety of ways that have been suggested to measure biodiversity and so the positive and negative impacts of business practices.

Flights slowly resume at Sicily's Catania airport as volcano erupts

Phys.org / 1d

Sicily's Catania airport began gradually reopening for flights Friday after they were temporarily suspended following an eruption from Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano.

Exploring the radiative effects of precipitation on Arctic amplification and energy budget

500+Phys.org / 1d

One of the key metrics for climate modeling is radiative forcing. Most climate models, including the general circulation models (GCMs), focus on the effects of different atmospheric factors on radiative forcing. However, there are still large uncertainties in satellite observations and multi-model simulations associated with some atmospheric factors.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe completes 20th close approach to the sun

Phys.org / 1d

NASA's Parker Solar Probe completed its 20th close approach to the sun on June 30, 2024, matching its own distance record by coming about 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) from the solar surface.

Eight CubeSats lift off for NASA on Firefly Aerospace rocket

Firefly Aerospace launches Alpha rocket carrying

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Phys.org / 1d

As part of NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative, Firefly Aerospace launched eight small satellites on July 3 aboard the company's Alpha rocket. Named "Noise of Summer," the rocket successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:04 p.m. PDT.

A new Australian bill is proposing a human right to housing: How would this work?

Phys.org / 1d

There's a new bill before federal parliament calling for housing to be considered a fundamental human right.

How an 'always-on' work culture can create a vicious cycle that damages workers and employers

Phys.org / 1d

The glamorization of high-pressure work environments, like the infamous "996" culture (where staff work from 9am until 9pm six days a week), often portrays relentless dedication and long hours as key to career success.

Southern Australia is freezing: How can it be so cold in a warming climate?

22Phys.org / 1d

People living in southern Australia won't have failed to notice how cold it is. Frosty nights and chilly days have been the weather for many of us since the start of July.

Our clothes generate microplastics that pollute the St. Lawrence River and other bodies of water, say researchers

Phys.org / 1d

Our clothes are made mainly of plastic.

Five common English words we don't know the origins of—including 'boy' and 'dog'

Phys.org / 1d

The naming process, the act of naming the items of the world, is as old as the first words spoken by our ancestors. We can reconstruct the stages of this process through etymology, which studies the historical development of the lexicon of a language.

With its latest moon mission success, China's space program has the US in its sights

Phys.org / 1d

June 25 2024 marked a new "first" in the history of spaceflight. China's robotic Chang'e 6 spacecraft delivered samples of rock back to Earth from a huge feature on the moon called the south pole–Aitken basin. After touching down on the moon's "far side," on the southern rim of the Apollo crater, Chang'e 6 came back with around 1.9kg of rock and soil, according to the China National Space Administ

New catalysts enable greener ester synthesis

Phys.org / 1d

A new catalyst may well catalyze a shift to greener chemistry. Chemists from Yokohama National University have successfully developed innovative catalysts containing two noble metals that demonstrate remarkable efficiency in ester-producing chemical reactions and utilize oxygen as the sole oxidant, making the process much more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Ancient volcanic eruption not a catalyst for early Homo sapiens cultural innovations, researchers say

100+Phys.org / 1d

An international team of researchers from the Universities of Tübingen (Dr. Armando Falcucci), Siena, and Bologna analyzed the cultural remains left by groups of early Homo sapiens at Grotta di Castelcivita in southern Italy, dating back to before the major eruption known as the Campanian Ignimbrite.

Motivated to disagree: What can be learned about rapid polarization from the Israeli judicial reform?

Phys.org / 1d

A recent study, conducted in the midst of last year's widespread protests in Israel, has uncovered extreme polarization in public opinion regarding the judicial reform introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Researchers explain the imaging mechanisms of atomic force microscopy in 3D

49Phys.org / 1d

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University report the 3D imaging of a suspended nanostructure. The technique used is an extension of atomic force microscopy and is a promising approach for visualizing various 3D biological systems.

Controlling magnetism with polarized light: Non-thermal pathway uses inverse Faraday effect

66Phys.org / 1d

Intense laser pulses can be used to manipulate or even switch the magnetization orientation of a material on extremely short time scales. Typically, such effects are thermally induced, as the absorbed laser energy heats up the material very rapidly, causing an ultrafast perturbation of the magnetic order.

Getting bacteria into line: Physicists use magnetic fields to manipulate bacterial behavior

Phys.org / 1d

Researchers at Finland's Aalto University have found a way to use magnets to line up bacteria as they swim. The approach offers more than just a way to nudge bacteria into order—it also provides a useful tool for a wide range of research, such as work on complex materials, phase transitions and condensed matter physics.

Study finds ways to enhance transcription factor activity

Phys.org / 1d

Transcription factors regulate gene expression by binding specific sequences on DNA, which is an essential step to producing messenger RNAs from protein-coding genes. Denes Hnisz's lab, in collaboration with Martin Vingron's lab at the MPIMG, has discovered that human transcription factors don't typically use their full potential. Instead, important protein regions within transcription factors enc

Study reveals human degradation of tropical forests is greater than previously estimated

Phys.org / 1d

Tropical forests are essential to sustain high biodiversity and mitigate climate change. They suffer from deforestation, the cutting and converting of forests for agriculture, mining, or infrastructure purposes. However, significant human impacts on the remaining forests that lead to their degradation are often overlooked.

Investigations of the polysomatism of antigorite under pressure

Phys.org / 1d

Antigorite is a type of serpentine, which is the most abundant hydrated mineral on the Earth. It is widely believed that this mineral is the main carrier of water deep into the Earth in subducting oceanic plates. It has a wavy structure along the a-axis, and in nature, several polysomes with different m-values (m=13–24) have been identified (polysomatism).

AI-assisted technology detects nanoplastics in water—instantly

Phys.org / 1d

A McGill-led research team has developed the first real-time, on-site technology capable of detecting and deciphering nanoplastics from all other particles in water, a capacity akin to being able to find a needle in a haystack within milliseconds.

Novel 2D device for quantum cooling converts heat to voltage at ultra-low temperatures

100+Phys.org / 1d

EPFL engineers have created a device that can efficiently convert heat into electrical voltage at temperatures lower than that of outer space. The innovation could help overcome a significant obstacle to the advancement of quantum computing technologies, which require extremely low temperatures to function optimally.

Elusive temporary star described in historical documents recreated using new computer model

Phys.org / 1d

A mysterious remnant from a rare type of supernova recorded in 1181 has been explained for the first time. Two white dwarf stars collided, creating a temporary "guest star," now labeled supernova (SN) 1181, which was recorded in historical documents in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. However, after the star dimmed, its location and structure remained a mystery until a team pinpointed its location in

Scientists uncover conserved mechanism of pericentric heterochromatin initiation in vertebrates

Phys.org / 1d

A study published in Nature on July 4 by Prof. Zhu Bing from the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has shed light on the conserved mechanism responsible for the initiation of pericentric heterochromatin in vertebrates.

AI approach optimizes development of antibody drugs

Phys.org / 1d

Proteins have evolved to excel at everything from contracting muscles to digesting food to recognizing viruses. To engineer better proteins, including antibodies, scientists often iteratively mutate the amino acids—the units that are arranged in a sequence to make up proteins—in different positions until the resulting protein has an improved function, like eliciting a stronger immune response or c

New chemical process separates textile fibers for easier recycling

New method recycles mixed textiles

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Phys.org / 1d

A combined team of chemical and biomolecular engineers from the University of Delaware, and the Center for Plastics Innovation, both in the U.S., has developed a way to chemically separate fibers in textiles, allowing them to be recycled more quickly and cheaply than conventional methods.

'Vaults' within germ cells offer more than safekeeping

Phys.org / 1d

Maternal messenger RNAs (mRNAs), located within the cytoplasm of an immature egg, are crucial for jump starting development. Following fertilization, these mRNAs are passed onto the zygote, the first newly formed cell.

Scientists visualize magnetic fields at atomic scale with holography electron microscope

Hitachi achieves magnetic field observation

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100+Phys.org / 1d

A research team from Japan, including scientists from Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE 6501, Hitachi), Kyushu University, RIKEN, and HREM Research Inc. (HREM), has achieved a major breakthrough in the observation of magnetic fields at unimaginably small scales.

Offshore windfarms: A threat for electro-sensitive sharks?

Phys.org / 1d

An ongoing research project into the impact of offshore windfarm electromagnetic fields on shark development reveals that the alternating electric currents produced by underwater windfarm cables seems not to disrupt the growth or survival of sharks. The research was presented at