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Phys.org / AI makes quantum field theories computable

An old puzzle in particle physics has been solved: How can quantum field theories be best formulated on a lattice to optimally simulate them on a computer? The answer comes from AI.

Jan 26, 2026 in Physics
Tech Xplore / Three-in-one process recycles spent lithium batteries, captures CO₂ and generates catalysts—all at room temperature

Scientists from China have developed a new way to recycle lithium batteries that is a triple win for the planet. It not only extracts nearly all the lithium for reuse but also traps carbon dioxide and converts the remaining ...

Jan 24, 2026 in Engineering
Phys.org / Simple statistical method predicts landslide risk more accurately than classic method

A relatively simple statistical analysis method can more accurately predict the risk of landslides caused by heavy rain, according to a study coordinated by Brazilian researchers affiliated with the Institute of Mathematical ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Earth
Medical Xpress / Most doctor-made YouTube health videos lack strong proof, study finds

Many health videos on YouTube, even those made by doctors, may not be giving viewers reliable medical information, a new study suggests.

Jan 30, 2026 in Health
Phys.org / Tropical feedback loop: Butterfly mimicry patterns evolve faster near the equator

In the early 1990s, Keith Willmott and a friend, both undergraduate students from the United Kingdom, arrived in Ecuador with impressionable minds and big aspirations. Willmott initially imagined there might be 20 to 30 butterfly ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Caterpillars hear through tiny body hairs, which could inspire improved microphones

No ears, no problem. The tobacco hornworm caterpillar, a common garden pest, can actually detect airborne sound via microscopic hairs on its body, according to a team of faculty and graduate students at Binghamton University. ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Tech Xplore / Electric eel biology inspires powerful gel battery

Power sources used in devices found in or around biological tissue must be flexible and nontoxic, while still powerful enough to support demanding technologies such as medical devices or soft robotics. To achieve this balance, ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Energy & Green Tech
Phys.org / Another kind of student debt is entrenching inequality: 'Time inheritance'

In November 2012, during my first year as a Ph.D. student, a 23-year-old medical student knocked on my door. Earlier that day, we had been discussing our ages in our shared kitchen. At 30, I had stayed silent, feeling a sharp ...

Jan 29, 2026 in Other Sciences
Tech Xplore / Swarms of mini robots that 'bloom' could lead to adaptive architecture

Nature is, of course, the master engineer—been there, seen it, solved it. While we struggle to design buildings that don't overheat or feel like concrete cages, nature has been perfecting comfortable living structures for ...

Jan 24, 2026 in Robotics
Phys.org / Corals sleep like us, but their symbionts never rest

Sleep is essential for much of the animal kingdom. During the night, neuron and tissue repair mechanisms are activated to aid recovery from daily activity. This is risky: organisms that sleep are more vulnerable to predators. ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Gold 'supraballs' nearly double solar energy absorption in tests

Sunbeams contain a lot of energy. But current technology for harvesting solar power doesn't capture as much as it could. Now, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers report that gold nanospheres, named supraballs, ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Alfvén waves act as the power source behind Earth's auroral displays, research reveals

The dazzling lights of the aurora are created when high-energy particles from space collide with Earth's atmosphere. While scientists have long understood this process, one big mystery remained: What powers the electric fields ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space