https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Abscisic acid (ABA), a key environmental response hormone, strongly inhibits seed germination and serves as a central regulator in this process. While significant progress has been made in deciphering the molecular mechanisms of ABA-mediated germination suppression, the potential specificity of ABA signaling and seed germination regulation under specific environmental conditions remains unclear. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-nitrate-hormone-inhibition-boost-seed.html Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:21:02 EDT news662386861 Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a method that can track chemical changes in molten salt in real time—helping to pave the way for the deployment of molten salt reactors for energy production. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-laser-breakdown-spectroscopy-real-chemical.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:46:03 EDT news661603561 Corn growers seeking to increase the amount of nitrogen taken up by their crop can adjust many aspects of fertilizer application, but recent studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign show those tweaks don't do much to improve uptake efficiency from fertilizer. That's because, the studies show, corn takes up the majority of its nitrogen—about 67% on average—from sources occurring naturally in soil, not from fertilizer. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-nitrogen-corn-fertilizer-farmers.html Ecology Wed, 31 May 2023 14:12:57 EDT news604761172 Let's say you're a corn grower farming on low-fertility soil. How do you go about making that soil healthier and more fertile? Many farmers think if they add plenty of nitrogen fertilizer, that nutrient, along with carbon, will be stored in the soil as organic matter when microbes decompose crop residue. But new research from the University of Illinois suggests those efforts might not work for poor soils. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-poor-soils-carbon-crop-residue.html Ecology Mon, 15 May 2023 15:53:03 EDT news603384781 Stationary marine organisms that don't ply the ocean, but spend their lives rooted in one spot, have evolved impressive ways to capture prey. The sea anemone Nematostella, for instance, burrows into salt marsh sediments and stays there for life. But it has specialized 'stinging cells' that hurl toxins into passing prey, immobilizing the morsel so the anemone can snatch it with its tentacles. https://phys.org/news/2022-01-current-marsh-pollution-negative-effects.html Ecology Sat, 08 Jan 2022 04:58:19 EST news560840293 Safety combined with power and effectiveness is one of the most important targets in the development of pyrotechnic obscurants. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, German and Polish scientists introduced phosphorus nitride as a safe but very powerful alternative to the well-known red phosphorus formulations, which have been used in military and civilian applications for decades. https://phys.org/news/2016-11-phosphorus-nitride-friction-stable-fast-burning-effective.html Materials Science Thu, 10 Nov 2016 07:22:12 EST news397984921 LMU chemists have developed a new formulation for the generation of green flames. Unlike conventional mixtures, the new blend of reactants is environmentally benign, and it produces a green flame of previously unattained purity. https://phys.org/news/2014-07-chemists-green-flames.html Materials Science Fri, 25 Jul 2014 09:50:01 EDT news325497453 Our ancestors first created ice by dissolving 'saltpetre' (potassium nitrate) in water and then pouring the mix into long-necked bottles that were then rotated. Since then, people have sought new ways to keep food cool. https://phys.org/news/2013-09-cold-history-science-technology-culture.html Other Fri, 06 Sep 2013 09:20:01 EDT news297676026 (PhysOrg.com) -- A Californian company, SolarReserve, is developing a solar power system that can store seven hours' worth of solar energy by focusing mirrors onto millions of gallons of molten salt, allowing the plant to provide electricity 24 hours a day. https://phys.org/news/2009-11-solar-power-clock.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:34:37 EST news176632405