Have you ever wondered how grapes adapt to different environments? The grapevine, or Vitis species, is known for its adaptability. This adaptability is due to how it responds to its surroundings, a phenomenon called phenotypic plasticity. Scientists studied two grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon an
Making semiconductors often leaves tiny issues, like dangling bonds and charge traps, on channels and interfaces. Fixing these can be tough, especially with small structures and thin materials like MoS 2 . High-energy treatments might cause more harm than good. So, scientists turned to hydrogen io
Ever wondered how researchers in urban and demographic studies consume information? One way to find out is by looking at what they cite in their work. A recent study did just that, focusing on articles published in the journal "Estudios Demográficos y Urbanos" from 1998 to 2007. These articles were
Did you know that some polymer crystals can conduct heat really well? Researchers dug into a big library of polymers to find some that are superstars at this. They used special math and physics rules to figure out which ones could help cool down things like computers and phones. They found that some
We all see things that aren't really there sometimes—that's what we call optical illusions. Scientists find these mind-bending tricks fascinating because they reveal how our eyes and brains work together to create our perception of the world. Interestingly, nonhuman primates, like monkeys, also fall
Did you know that tiny ocean creatures called protists play a big role in keeping our planet healthy? They help cycle important compounds like carbon and nitrogen. But because they live in remote areas, we don't know much about how they react to changes in their environment. In the southern Pacific
Meet the yeast, Aureobasidium pullulans, a tiny creature from the vast open ocean. This yeast has a unique ability: it can switch between growing as single cells and forming long, thread-like filaments. Scientists have been trying to understand what causes this change in shape. A recent study found
The epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR, helps cells grow and become specialized. But when things go wrong, EGFR can cause cancer. There are eight molecules, called ligands, that activate EGFR, with two main ones being epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α). Sci
In the world of mathematics, scientists are digging deep into braided tensor categories (BTCs). These are "functional" frameworks that help understand the behavior of certain mathematical objects when they interact. One interesting aspect researchers are focusing on is how these categories can be di
Scientists used a fancy computer code called ZEUS-3D to figure out what happened when a comet named SL9 smashed into Jupiter. They added some special rules to make the code understand light and heat better. They found that a huge shock wave formed, which matched what we saw from space. This shock wa
