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Phys.org / In Arizona's desert, tiny ants turn into living hygienists, climbing inside bigger ants' mandibles and cleaning them

Ants are known for many things. They fight, bite and sometimes compete for every crumb. We can now possibly add cleaning services to that list, according to a study published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

Apr 13, 2026
Phys.org / 'Ghost tunnels' guide sound waves in one direction while staying invisible to others

Acoustic metamaterials are a fast-evolving family of materials which manipulate sound waves in ever more advanced ways. Now, a team led by Changqing Xu at Nanjing Normal University in China has engineered an acoustic metamaterial, ...

Apr 13, 2026
Medical Xpress / People who consume ultra-processed foods have worse muscle health, study suggests

Researchers found that a diet high in ultra-processed foods is associated with higher amounts of fat stored inside thigh muscles, regardless of calorie or fat intake, physical activity or sociodemographic factors in a population ...

Apr 14, 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
Tech Xplore / Tiny cameras in earbuds let users talk with AI about what they see

University of Washington researchers developed the first system that incorporates tiny cameras in off-the-shelf wireless earbuds to allow users to talk with an AI model about the scene in front of them. For instance, a user ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / The once-theoretical skyrmion could unlock supercomputing memory

When looking to the future of information technology, researchers have pinpointed a once-theoretical particle-like structure: the skyrmion. Magnetic skyrmions are very stable structures found on micromagnetic materials that ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum simulations tackle photon polarization flip, but today's hardware falls short

For the last 80 years, the theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED), which describes all electromagnetic interactions, has been a cornerstone of the standard model, withstanding the scrutiny of countless experiments and agreeing ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / A new fruit wash removes pesticides and extends shelf life

University of British Columbia researchers have developed a natural, biodegradable wash that removed up to 96% of pesticide residue from fruit and slowed browning and moisture loss. This could mean safer apples, grapes and ...

Apr 13, 2026
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 / 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 / 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 / Why fasting can lead to a longer lifespan

Restricting calories has long been recognized as a powerful way to live longer, with periods of intermittent fasting proving more effective than a steady diet. However, the mechanism behind this phenomenon has been unclear. ...

Apr 14, 2026