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Phys.org / AI trained like a Rubik's Cube solver simplifies particle physics equations

For years, Rutgers physicist David Shih solved Rubik's Cubes with his children, twisting the colorful squares until the scrambled puzzle returned to order. He didn't expect the toy to connect to his research, but recently ...

Apr 8, 2026
Tech Xplore / Wearable robots improve coordination between pairs of violin players

In some settings and when completing some collaborative tasks, humans are required to coordinate their movements or actions with those of others. A clear example of this is musical performance, particularly instances in which ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / From Asgard to Earth: Tiny tubes may reveal the moment complex life began

Stromatolites—and their close relatives, microbial mats—could be mistaken for what seems like a bunch of old dark rocks. But instead, they are dense, layered communities of microbes. Long before complex life such as animals ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Analysis finds geometric thinking may come from wandering, not a human-only math module

Debates over how geometry is understood and learned date back at least to the days of Plato, with more recent scholars concluding that only humans possess the foundations of this understanding. However, a new analysis by ...

Apr 6, 2026
Phys.org / The lengths male octopuses go to protect the arm they need to mate

For mating male octopuses, one limb is more important than all others. That is the third right arm or hectocotylus, which is used to transfer sperm to the female because the penis cannot do it directly. Losing the limb can ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Heat from traffic is contributing to rises in city temperatures, study finds

Scientists at The University of Manchester have developed a new way to measure how traffic contributes to rising urban temperatures, revealing that everyday vehicle use can play a measurable role in making cities warmer. ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Water conservation works, but climate change is outpacing it: Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas show the future

When a drought turns into an urban water crisis, a city's first step is often to limit lawn watering and launch a campaign to encourage everyone to conserve. It might raise water-use rates or offer incentives for installing ...

Apr 8, 2026
Medical Xpress / Sauna heat sends white blood cells surging through your bloodstream, study finds

Sauna bathing releases white blood cells into the bloodstream, a new study from Finland shows. Circulating white blood cells play a key role in the body's defense against various pathogens and diseases. The results were published ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Physicists zero in on the mass of the fundamental W boson particle

When fundamental particles are heavier or lighter than expected, physicists' understanding of the universe can tip into the unknown. A particle that is just beyond its predicted mass can unravel scientists' assumptions about ...

Apr 8, 2026
Tech Xplore / Volcanic rock formula cuts cement emissions by two-thirds

Researchers have developed a volcanic rock formula that cuts carbon emissions by 67%, potentially offering an affordable alternative to increasingly scarce cement additives.

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Why treelines don't simply rise with the climate

A global study by the University of Basel, Switzerland, reveals a surprising picture: While 42% of treelines worldwide are shifting upslope, 25% are retreating. This seemingly contradictory trend involves more than just warming. ...

Apr 9, 2026
Phys.org / Dragonflies share humans' red-light sensing trick, detecting wavelengths near 720 nm

Sometimes, different organisms can evolve the same ability independently, a process called parallel evolution. A new study from Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) has found that dragonflies sense red light similarly to mammals, ...

Apr 9, 2026