physorg.com:Spotlight stories

Fossil fuel CO₂ emissions hit record high in 2025 Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels are projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025—reaching a record high, according to new research by the Global Carbon Project.
Diverse particles form identical geometric patterns when confined, model reveals Particles as different as soap bubbles and ball bearings can be made to arrange themselves in exactly the same way, according to a new study that could unlock the creation of brand new materials—including those with promising biomedical applications.
Plants balance adaptability in skin cells with stability in sex cells, study reveals Mutations drive evolution, but they can also be risky. New research led by plant biologists at the University of California, Davis, published Nov. 10 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how plants control mutation rates in different stem cells to balance adaptability with safety and stability. The findings have implications for breeding some of the world's most important fruit and vegetable crops, such as potatoes and bananas.
How climate change brings wildlife to the yard As climate change increases the frequency of droughts, UCLA and UC Davis researchers found one overlooked side effect: People report more conflicts with wildlife during drought, when resources are scarce.
Earth's largest modern crater discovered in Southern China A newly discovered, remarkably well-preserved impact crater is shedding fresh light on how extraterrestrial bodies collide with Earth.
Rainfall and temperature shape mosquito fauna in Atlantic Forest bromeliads, including malaria vectors The transmission of malaria by the Anopheles cruzii mosquito in the South and Southeast of Brazil was so alarming in the 1940s—with approximately 4,000 cases per 100,000 people—that the disease became known as bromeliad malaria. This is because the Kerteszia subgenus of the mosquito, which transmits the disease in the Atlantic Forest, develops only in bromeliads, plants that accumulate water and maintain conditions favorable for the development of this and other species.
Gene editing produces plants that are indigestible to pests Insects that feed on starch can find veritable feasts in corn, pea, and bean crops or warehouses. It is no coincidence that the ancestors of these commercial plants developed α-amylase inhibitor proteins, which make the starch in their seeds indigestible to pests, keeping them from becoming serious threats. However, the domestication of wild plants by humans to increase productivity and digestibility may have reduced the presence of these inhibitors.
AI helps identify genomic 'time capsule' that distinguishes species In a recent study, scientists from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have utilized cutting-edge artificial intelligence methods to identify a region of the X chromosome that has maintained the distinctiveness of mammal species for millions of years.
Hourly weather data show shifting freeze and heat stress periods across US Studying historical hourly weather data—and the amount of time that temperatures remain above or below certain thresholds—reveals several impacts of U.S. regional climate change trends.
Evidence of ancient underground water reveals Mars may have stayed habitable longer than believed Scientists from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have uncovered new evidence that water once flowed beneath the surface of Mars, revealing that the planet may have remained habitable for life much longer than previously thought.
Turning the gut microbiome into a longevity factory A team of researchers has found a way to turn the bacteria living in the digestive tracts of animals into factories that can produce compounds that promote longevity in their hosts—showing a potential new drug development strategy.
Imaging reveals bacterial symbionts in the ovaries of tiny, aquatic crustaceans Researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) have imaged a heritable form of bacterial symbiosis inside the reproductive system of tiny crustaceans known as ostracods.
Young adults say they're happy with their friendships, but many still feel disconnected A new study challenges common assumptions about loneliness in young adulthood, finding that feelings of disconnection can coexist with rich, active social lives.
Snail genome duplication offers look at evolution in transition A tiny freshwater snail from New Zealand is giving scientists a glimpse into evolution in motion. University of Iowa biologists have traced the snail's evolutionary history through its genome and discovered that the species recently duplicated all of its genetic material—a finding that could further reveal how major evolutionary shifts in animals occur.
Randomness reveals hidden order in the plant world In the intricate architecture of plant tissues, beauty often emerges from chaos, according to new research from Cornell researchers. Findings from a recent study show how randomness and growth together create the striking cellular patterns that shape plant organs—and perhaps all multicellular life.