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Phys.org / Massive black hole mystery unlocked by researchers

It's one of astronomy's great mysteries: how did black holes get so big, so massive, so quickly. An answer to this cosmic conundrum has now been provided by researchers at Ireland's Maynooth University (MU) and reported today ...

Jan 21, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Ancient Spanish trees reveal Mediterranean storms are intensifying

Ancient pine trees growing in the Iberian mountains of eastern Spain have quietly recorded more than five centuries of Mediterranean weather. Now, by reading the annual growth rings preserved in their wood, scientists have ...

Jan 24, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Vast cluster of ancient galaxies could rewrite the history of star formation

Astronomers have discovered a vast, dense cluster of massive galaxies just 1 billion years after the Big Bang, each forming stars at an intense rate from collapsing clouds of dust. Reported in Astronomy & Astrophysics by ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Amplifying feedbacks could drive Greenland ice sheet to near-complete disappearance

Greenland, which has been prominently in the news in recent days, hosts a vast ice sheet. If it melts, it will become one of the largest contributors to global sea-level rise. Under a high-emissions scenario, the Greenland ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / ATLAS confirms collective nature of quark soup's radial expansion

Scientists analyzing data from heavy ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)—the world's most powerful particle collider, located at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research—have new evidence that ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Crouzon syndrome diagnosed in a knight from the Order of Calatrava, killed in battle over 600 years ago

For the ArchaeoSpain research team, it was a day just like any other on their dig at the castle of Zorita de los Canes (Guadalajara). They were working at the Corral de los Condes, where some knights from the Order of Calatrava ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Bacteria use wrapping flagella to tunnel through microscopic passages, research reveals

Researchers have discovered how bacteria break through spaces barely larger than themselves, by wrapping their flagella around their bodies and moving forward. Using a microfluidic device that mimics insect gut channels, ...

Jan 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Bionic LiDAR system achieves beyond-retinal resolution through adaptive focusing

In a recent study, researchers from China have developed a chip-scale LiDAR system that mimics the human eye's foveation by dynamically concentrating high-resolution sensing on regions of interest (ROIs) while maintaining ...

Jan 21, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / PFAS contamination in Pawcatuck River traced back to old textile mill ponds

A study led by University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography alumnus Jarod Snook, Ph.D., identified a long-term source of PFAS, or "forever chemicals," entering the Pawcatuck River from two historically contaminated ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Conservation may not be enough to sustain water supplies, researchers find

As temperatures rise and water supplies drop, public policy could bolster municipal water provisions under pressure. But one policy prescription—pushing conservation—will likely be insufficient as a standalone fix to ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Florida reefs offer multimillion-dollar flood protection—if they survive

It's no secret that Florida's iconic coral reefs are in trouble. Repeated body blows from hurricanes, pollution, disease, climate change—and a near-knockout punch from a 2023 marine heat wave—has effectively wiped several ...

Jan 23, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / It started with a cat: How 100 years of quantum weirdness powers today's tech

A hundred years ago, quantum mechanics was a radical theory that baffled even the brightest minds. Today, it's the backbone of technologies that shape our lives, from lasers and microchips to quantum computers and secure ...

Jan 20, 2026 in Physics