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Phys.org / Nature might have a universal rhythm

Animal communication can look wildly different—flashing lights, chirping calls, croaking songs and elaborate dances. But new research from Northwestern University suggests many of these signals share a surprising feature: ...

Apr 15, 2026
Medical Xpress / Why private gardens mattered so much during the first COVID-19 lockdown

A team of researchers led by the University of Aberdeen has found that private gardens played a vital role in supporting people's well-being during the U.K.'s first COVID-19 lockdown, when access to public green spaces was ...

Apr 18, 2026
Phys.org / Physics-based AI model opens new frontiers in dielectric materials exploration

Predicting material properties remains a major challenge in materials science, as it often requires complex and computationally intensive calculations. In particular, understanding how materials respond to electric fields ...

Apr 18, 2026
Phys.org / Blended satellite data reveal what drove methane's 2019–2024 rise worldwide

Because methane has around 80 times the warming potential of CO2 over a 20-year period, it has been a major focus for climate action groups. The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26 in November 2021, aims to cut human-caused ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / A tabletop ring of atoms brings the universe's doomsday vacuum collapse into the lab

Physicists in China have simulated the effect of "false vacuum decay": a phenomenon believed to play out constantly in the seemingly empty expanses of space, and which one theory even suggests could bring an abrupt end to ...

Apr 13, 2026
Tech Xplore / Transparent cooling film cuts car cabin temperature by 6.1°C without electricity

A transparent radiative cooling film technology that dissipates heat directly to the outside without consuming electricity has been developed to reduce vehicle overheating during summer. The technology was validated through ...

Apr 17, 2026
Phys.org / Volunteers discover rare space weather events using their ears

Our planet rests inside a magnetic cocoon filled with plasma—but it's not always peaceful and quiet. Activity from the sun can send waves through this space, and some of those disturbances can even reach Earth, affecting ...

Apr 17, 2026
Phys.org / Museum drawer fossil reveals 200-million-year-old crocodile relative with a powerful bite

The fossil record has given us another new prehistoric species, named Eosphorosuchus lacrimosa (from the Greek personification of the morning star—the planet Venus), a member of the group called Crocodylomorpha, which includes ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Disputes over Africa's ocean resources: Here's what could help avoid them

Over the last several decades, the oceans have become more crowded. Aquaculture, wind and wave energy, and oil and gas exploration are taking up more space. This growth threatens the health of ocean ecosystems and coastal ...

Apr 18, 2026
Phys.org / As modern crops turn 'lazy' underground, old sorghum may hold key to future food security

A greater focus on roots during plant breeding could ensure staple grain crops continue to feed the world as recycled nutrients substitute conventional fertilizers in the future, a University of Queensland study published ...

Apr 17, 2026
Phys.org / A newly recognized pollutant is widely present in the atmosphere

A new study shows that a specific type of silicone, the so-called methylsiloxanes, is widely present in the atmosphere across diverse environments. Also, concentrations appear to be much higher than expected. According to ...

Apr 16, 2026
Tech Xplore / Electric vehicles pass tipping point, breaking the link with oil prices

When the Strait of Hormuz first closed in March and oil hit US$120 a barrel, a very old question came back: is this finally the moment electric vehicles take off for good—or just another false start?

Apr 18, 2026