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Phys.org / Five-tea comparison reveals kombucha's biological properties depend on starting point

Over the past few years, kombucha has become one of the world's most popular fermented beverages. While most consumers focus primarily on its taste, scientists are increasingly analyzing its chemical composition and potential ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / New kind of dark tourism emerging in online 'Backrooms,' study shows

Digital culture is reshaping people's experiences of fear, curiosity and belonging, according to new findings from Lancaster University. Researchers have explored why online environments like the "Backrooms"—mysterious empty ...

May 21, 2026
Phys.org / Teaching thermodynamic laws to AI unlocks a polymer modeling challenge

For more than half a century, materials scientists have struggled with how to simulate the complexity of polymer materials. An individual chain can comprise tens of thousands of atoms, a melt or composite contains billions, ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Universe's most distant 'Hot DOG' yet may owe extreme infrared glow to polar dust, Webb reveals

New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have revealed fresh details about one of the most luminous known objects in the universe: the dust-shrouded quasar W2246−0526, seen just 1.2 billion years after the Big ...

May 25, 2026
Tech Xplore / AI beats human forecasters in tournament predicting 30 tech ventures

For decades, the idea that artificial intelligence can beat humans at number-crunching tasks like high-frequency trading has been widely accepted. But strategic foresight—the ability to predict the success of high-stakes, ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / As wolves recover, golden jackals may still conquer most of Europe thanks to 'human shield'

Human activity may be enabling the expansion of golden jackals across Europe by reducing the suppressive effect of gray wolves, suggests research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. This human-mediated interaction could ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / How homing pigeons keep navigation simple when winging their way home together

When it comes to flocking together, homing pigeons use a simple strategy to find better ways home, according to a recent report. The study, published in the journal eLife, suggests that homing pigeons use simple route averaging ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Months trapped together in Antarctic isolation reveal a risk few long missions can afford to ignore

How can people continue to function as a team when they live together in isolation for months on end? A new study led by the University of Zurich shows that loneliness isn't the only challenge posed by extreme environments. ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers capture inception of hydrogen-uranium reaction for the first time

When hydrogen gas interacts with uranium metal, the combination creates a chemically reactive powder and a runaway reaction that is difficult to stop. The result can impact the safety and lifespan of technology critical for ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Social background also shapes environmental awareness, says study

Academic success depends largely on social background—this has long been known. A recent international study led by researchers at Leuphana University of Lüneburg now shows that young people's attitudes toward environmental ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient dust points to retreat of West Antarctic Ice Sheet during last warm period

Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet may have been far smaller during one of Earth's most recent warm periods, according to a new study that traced the origin of ancient dust preserved in Antarctic ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Surface design transforms thermal management and enables frictionless systems

A research team led by Professor Steven Wang, Associate Vice President (Resources Planning) and Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and School of Energy and Environment, has designed a revolutionary ...

May 26, 2026