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Tech Xplore / Phase-changing VO₂ turns methane into propane and hydrogen more efficiently

Converting methane, the primary component of natural gas, into higher alkanes and hydrogen, could be highly advantageous. Alkanes, such as propane and butane, are easier to transport than methane and are used in a wider range ...

Apr 13, 2026
Phys.org / Space worms! A microscopic crew goes into orbit to support future moon missions

British scientists have launched a crew of microscopic worms to the International Space Station in a pioneering experiment that could help unlock the secrets of long-duration space travel—and support ambitions to reach the ...

Apr 13, 2026
Phys.org / Revived Nubian royal robes shed light on prestige and authority in a lost Christian kingdom

A recent archaeological project has physically reconstructed the ceremonial dress of medieval Nubian royalty and clergy, offering a rare glimpse into how clothing shaped and communicated authority in Christian Nubia. The ...

Apr 13, 2026
Phys.org / Astronomers find the strongest evidence yet for the universe's first stars

For decades, astronomers were only able to study the universe's very first stars using theoretical models. Now, observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed what may be the most compelling evidence ...

Apr 12, 2026
Phys.org / Powerful imaging pulls lost ocean life from 445-million-year-old stone and exposes a hidden extinction record

New technology has helped a team of scientists uncover more than 20 microscopic fossils, including a species previously unknown to science. The discovery may provide us with fresh insights into the Late Ordovician, one of ...

Apr 13, 2026
Medical Xpress / Chloride ions do more than help neurons fire—they may also help control how genes are expressed

Chloride ions, best known for helping cells maintain fluid balance and electrical stability, may also play a more direct role in regulating brain development than previously thought. In a new study, published in the journal ...

Apr 13, 2026
Phys.org / Mount Etna breaks volcano rules, tapping 80-kilometer-deep magma in a rare fourth category of eruption

Located in Sicily, Mount Etna is Europe's most active volcano. Yet its origin remains largely enigmatic, as no existing geological model fully explains how it formed. In a new study, scientists from the University of Lausanne ...

Apr 13, 2026
Phys.org / Embryo fossil found in South Africa is world's oldest proof that mammal ancestors laid eggs

Between 280 and 200 million years ago, a group of animals evolved which would eventually give rise to mammals, including humans: the therapsids. They were first described more than 150 years ago, based on fossils from South ...

Apr 12, 2026
Phys.org / After Artemis II, NASA looks to SpaceX, Blue Origin for moon landings

With Artemis II successfully completing its historic lunar mission on Friday, NASA is banking on billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk for the next step: landing astronauts on the moon.

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists turn 'mess' into breakthrough: Chaotic design unlocks next-generation optical devices

Researchers from the Monash University School of Physics and Astronomy have flipped a long-held assumption in optics, showing that deliberately introducing controlled disorder into ultra-thin optical devices can dramatically ...

Apr 10, 2026
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
Phys.org / Street green space can help cool cities, but it will not be enough on its own

A new IIASA-led study finds that expanding street green space can reduce urban heat stress in cities worldwide, but even ambitious greening efforts are unlikely to offset a significant share of the additional heat expected ...

Apr 9, 2026