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Phys.org / Well-behaved dogs generally have lower cortisol and higher serotonin, study finds

Dogs who scored well on the Wesen test, which is used to analyze a dog's temperament, tended to have lower levels of cortisol, often called the "stress hormone," and higher levels of serotonin, often called the "happiness ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Orange, camphor-smelling solid could be a key to the next generation grid-storage batteries

An orange solid with a camphor-like odor has helped aqueous zinc-iodide batteries move a large step closer to supplying safe and economic grid and household energy storage.

Feb 4, 2026 in Chemistry
Tech Xplore / AI-powered companionship: Harnessing music and empathetic speech in robots to combat loneliness

Loneliness has a critical impact on the mental health of citizens, particularly among the elderly. Robots capable of perceiving and responding to human emotions can serve as heart-warming companions to help lift the spirits. ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Robotics
Phys.org / From single queens to mega-colonies: How ant societies are shaped by the environment

A single queen in the tropics; large colonies in deserts; workers with uniform morphology in temperate regions; ant social structures vary according to environmental conditions. This is shown, for the first time at a global ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Gut microbe Blautia luti uses formate, not hydrogen, to shuttle electrons

Among the many trillions of microorganisms in the human gut is Blautia luti. Like many gut bacteria, it metabolizes indigestible dietary components, such as fiber in the form of carbohydrates. This process produces, among ...

Feb 6, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / 2024 total eclipse subtly shifted animal calling across three Ohio prairies, study finds

No natural phenomenon provides a rarer chance to study the secrets of the animal world than a total solar eclipse. This was recently demonstrated by researchers investigating how a total solar eclipse might affect the soundscape ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Spray away infections: New device delivers antibiotics via mist, alleviating risks of side effects

A University of Missouri researcher has unveiled a safer, smarter way to fight drug-resistant infections. Dr. Hongmin Sun, an associate professor in the School of Medicine, has demonstrated that a spray-mist device can deliver ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Biomedical technology
Phys.org / Platinum nanostructure sensor can differentiate mirror-image volatile scent compounds

Terpenes are volatile organic compounds that are responsible for, among other things, the typical scents of plants, resins or citrus fruits. These compounds occur naturally in the environment and influence chemical processes ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / How lipid nanoparticles carrying vaccines release their cargo

A study from FAU has shown that lipid nanoparticles restructure their membrane significantly after being absorbed into a cell and ending up in an acidic environment. Vaccines and other medicines are often packed in little ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / From sea to space: Turning the tide on microplastic pollution with satellite technology

What do microplastics, water color, and satellites have in common? Dr. Karl Kaiser, professor of marine and coastal environmental science in the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Hadean zircons reveal crust recycling and continent formation more than 4 billion years ago

Parts of ancient Earth may have formed continents and recycled crust through subduction far earlier than previously thought. New research led by scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has uncovered chemical signatures ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Earth
Dialog / Infrared running of gravity offers a field-theoretic route to dark matter phenomena

The mystery of dark matter—unseen, pervasive, and essential in standard cosmology—has loomed over physics for decades. In new research, I explore a different possibility: Rather than postulating new particles, I propose ...

Feb 2, 2026 in Astronomy & Space