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Phys.org / Detailed map reveals groundwater levels across the U.S.

How much fresh water is in the United States? It's a tough question, since most of the water is underground, accessible at varying depths. In previous decades, it's been answered indirectly from data on rainfall and evaporation. ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Honeycomb lattice sweetens quantum materials development

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are pioneering the design and synthesis of quantum materials, which are central to discovery science involving synergies with quantum computation. These ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Microbubbles can release microplastics into our water

Microbubbles in the tap water you just poured into a plastic glass are strong enough to create tiny abrasions on the inner layer of the plastic—quietly adding to our growing microplastic problem.

Jan 13, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Revealing the cell's nanocourier at work

An international group of researchers led by Pompeu Fabra University has discovered the nanomachine that controls constitutive exocytosis: the uninterrupted delivery of spherical molecular packages to the cell surface. This ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Spaceflight causes astronauts' brains to shift, stretch and compress in microgravity

Spaceflight takes a physical toll on astronauts, causing muscles to atrophy, bones to thin and bodily fluids to shift. According to a new study published in the journal PNAS, we can now add another major change to that list. ...

Jan 13, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Early humans relied on simple stone tools for 300,000 years in a changing east African landscape

Our prehistoric human ancestors relied on deliberately modified and sharpened stone tools as early as 3.3 million years ago. The selection of rock type depended on how easily the material could be flaked to the desired shape ...

Jan 17, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Sharks are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker

Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean's chemistry could put those weapons at risk.

Jan 16, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Nationwide racial bias shapes media reporting on gun violence, study suggests

Mass shootings in white-majority neighborhoods received roughly twice the news coverage of mass shootings in neighborhoods where a majority of residents were people of color, while coverage of police-involved shootings was ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / X-ray four-wave mixing captures elusive electron interactions inside atoms and molecules

Scientists at the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL have realized a long-pursued experimental goal in physics: to show how electrons dance together. The technique, known as X-ray four-wave mixing, opens a new way to see ...

Jan 16, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / T. rex grew up slowly: New study reveals 'king of dinosaurs' kept growing until age 40

For decades, scientists have been counting annual growth rings—similar to tree rings—inside fossilized leg bones of Tyrannosaurus rex to estimate how old the giant carnivores were when they died and how quickly they grew ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / German study examines why women are less likely to hold leadership positions in logistics

The logistics industry is one of Germany's key economic sectors—yet women remain significantly underrepresented in its leadership ranks. To explore the reasons behind this imbalance, Prof. Dr. Fridtjof Langenhan and Prof. ...

Jan 18, 2026 in Other Sciences
Medical Xpress / 1 in 5 people say losing their pet was worse than losing a person

For one in five people, losing a pet has been more distressing than losing a human loved one. New research has revealed that 21% of those who experienced both types of bereavement found their pet's death harder to bear.

Jan 16, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry