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Phys.org / Broken inversion symmetry lets 3D crystals mimic 2D Ising superconductivity

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, in general, allow the realization of unique quantum phenomena unattainable in the common three-dimensional (3D) world. A prime example is graphene. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Measuring time at the quantum level depends on material symmetry

EPFL physicists have found a way to measure the time involved in quantum events and found it depends on the symmetry of the material. "The concept of time has troubled philosophers and physicists for thousands of years, and ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Aerobic respiration began hundreds of millions of years earlier than previously thought, study suggests

Oxygen is a vital and constant presence on Earth today. But that hasn't always been the case. It wasn't until around 2.3 billion years ago that oxygen became a permanent fixture in the atmosphere, during a pivotal period ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Artificial light is reshaping caracal behavior, limiting where the South African wild cat can hunt

Artificial light is one of the most ingrained features of modern life. For humans, light after dark offers convenience and a sense of safety. For wildlife, it's a growing environmental disturbance. "When humans introduce ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Could apes 'play pretend' like toddlers? A study tracks imaginary juice and grapes

In a series of tea party-like experiments, Johns Hopkins University researchers demonstrate for the first time that apes can use their imagination and play pretend, an ability thought to be uniquely human.

Feb 5, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Hannibal's famous war elephants: Single bone in Spain offers first direct evidence

Historical accounts of the Punic Wars—and many other ancient wars—often paint a picture of soldiers riding in on imposing "war elephants." Yet, no skeletal remains of these war elephants had ever been found from the Punic ...

Feb 5, 2026 in Other Sciences
Medical Xpress / Nasal spray for flu prevention shows promising trial results

Researchers have developed a nasal spray for flu prevention that has shown promising results in preliminary human trials. Seasonal influenza (the flu) is an acute respiratory infection that affects up to one billion people ...

Feb 5, 2026 in Vaccination
Medical Xpress / Scientists now know why ovarian cancer spreads so rapidly in the abdomen

Ovarian cancer kills more women than any other gynecological cancer. Most patients receive their diagnosis only after the disease spreads throughout the abdomen. Until now, scientists have never fully understood why this ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Oncology & Cancer
Phys.org / Why snakes can go months between meals: A genetic explanation

Snakes may well be one of nature's greatest predators, capable of eating whole deer or even crocodiles, but just as impressive is that they can go months, or even a whole year, without a single meal. And now an international ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Tech Xplore / Stabilized iron catalyst could replace platinum in hydrogen fuel cells

Japan and California have embraced hydrogen fuel-cell technologies, a form of renewable energy that can be used in vehicles and for supplying clean energy to manufacturing sectors. But the technology remains expensive due ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Engineering
Medical Xpress / The body processes good fats and bad fats differently, study finds

The concept of "good fats" and "bad fats" has influenced diet trends, public health policy, and biomedical research for decades. Now, a new study led by Thomas A. Vallim, Ph.D., a researcher and professor of medicine in the ...

Phys.org / 'Jetty McJetface': Star-shredding black hole may keep ramping up its radio jet until 2027 peak

A supermassive black hole with a case of cosmic indigestion has been burping out the remains of a shredded star for four years—and it's still going strong, new research led by a University of Oregon astrophysicist shows.

Feb 5, 2026 in Astronomy & Space