Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories 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. Ancient campfires show early population numbers Radio carbon data from prehistoric occupation sites are providing insights into Australia's fluctuating human population levels tens of thousands of years ago. https://phys.org/news/2015-09-ancient-campfires-early-population.html Archaeology Mon, 14 Sep 2015 08:18:31 EDT news361437498 Scientists debunk Clearwater Lakes formation theory UWA geologists have helped debunk a long-held belief that twin asteroids formed Canada's Clearwater Lakes. https://phys.org/news/2014-10-scientists-debunk-clearwater-lakes-formation.html Earth Sciences Fri, 31 Oct 2014 09:10:01 EDT news333962287 Amino acids key to new gold leaching process Curtin University scientists have developed a gold and copper extraction process using an amino acid–hydrogen peroxide system, which could provide an environmentally friendly and cheaper alternative to conventional methods. https://phys.org/news/2014-10-amino-acids-key-gold-leaching.html Materials Science Fri, 24 Oct 2014 07:59:06 EDT news333356338 Mammalian bones provide clues to early human activity Archaeologist Carly Monks will excavate caves near Leeman, in WA's Mid West, to find signs of human activity dating back 6,000 years to the mid-Holocene period. https://phys.org/news/2014-10-mammalian-bones-clues-early-human.html Archaeology Mon, 20 Oct 2014 09:10:03 EDT news333013595 World's tectonic plate movement mapped A group of geophysicists is testing the hypothesis that the rate of "supercontinent assembly"—or tectonic plate movement—changes over time. https://phys.org/news/2014-08-world-tectonic-plate-movement.html Earth Sciences Mon, 25 Aug 2014 09:30:02 EDT news328174917 Bat wing practice maximises flight efficiency Australian bats developed a high-speed flying technology some 50 million years before aircraft engineers, according to Department of Parks and Wildlife zoologist Norm McKenzie. https://phys.org/news/2014-08-wing-maximises-flight-efficiency.html Plants & Animals Wed, 13 Aug 2014 11:10:01 EDT news327143809 Nullarbor meteorite likely fragment of unknown asteroid The first meteorite ever located solely using data from specially-placed cameras has been found to be geologically unique, presenting questions of its origins. https://phys.org/news/2014-07-nullarbor-meteorite-fragment-unknown-asteroid.html Space Exploration Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:00:01 EDT news323423746 New find challenges 'simple' Australian artefacts assumption Purposely sharpened or 'retouched' stone axes evolved in Australia thousands of years before they appeared in Europe according to researchers studying the south-east Asian archaeological record. https://phys.org/news/2014-04-simple-australian-artefacts-assumption.html Archaeology Wed, 09 Apr 2014 09:50:02 EDT news316252744 Hidden ants reveal gold better than top-dwelling termites Subterranean ants and termites are leading researchers and prospectors alike, to gold and other minerals in the northern Yilgarn district. https://phys.org/news/2014-03-hidden-ants-reveal-gold-top-dwelling.html Plants & Animals Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:00:06 EDT news314352661 Ninety-five per cent of world's fish hide in mesopelagic zone An international team of marine biologists has found mesopelagic fish in the earth's oceans constitute 10 to 30 times more biomass than previously thought. https://phys.org/news/2014-03-ninety-five-cent-world-fish-mesopelagic.html Ecology Mon, 03 Mar 2014 09:59:59 EST news313063184 Jurassic arthropod-plant interactions from the Australian fossil record An international team has analysed Jurassic arthropod-plant interactions from the Australian fossil record. https://phys.org/news/2014-02-jurassic-arthropod-plant-interactions-australian-fossil.html Archaeology Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:50:01 EST news312456049 An isotopic analysis of two mass extinction events An international research team has analysed two of the earth's mass extinction events, finding markedly similar conditions between the two. https://phys.org/news/2013-12-isotopic-analysis-mass-extinction-events.html Earth Sciences Tue, 10 Dec 2013 10:30:03 EST news305890904 Reef fossil find sets new age limit An organic geochemist has found fat molecules within fossilised remains in the central Kimberley's Devonian Reef. https://phys.org/news/2013-11-reef-fossil-age-limit.html Archaeology Mon, 11 Nov 2013 09:54:11 EST news303386040 'Listening' to black holes form with gravity waves New technology that breaks the quantum measurement barrier has been developed to detect the gravity waves first predicted by Einstein in 1916. https://phys.org/news/2013-08-black-holes-gravity.html Optics & Photonics Fri, 16 Aug 2013 10:10:02 EDT news295863849