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Phys.org / Astronomers find biggest super-puff planets yet that are lighter than cotton candy

Astronomers have uncovered a pair of giant planets that are lighter than cotton candy—super-puffs the size of Jupiter.

Jul 5, 2026
Phys.org / Laughter may date back 15 million years, shared by humans and great apes

Humans and great apes have been giggling in similar ways since branching off the evolutionary tree, a new study suggests.

Jul 5, 2026
Medical Xpress / Common brain cancer mutation changes DNA shape to drive progression, exposing therapeutic target

A new study from researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has uncovered how one of the most common genetic alterations in glioma rewires the cancer cell genome to fuel tumor progression, suggesting ...

Jul 4, 2026
Phys.org / Spring songbirds may help pollinate UK trees, with pollen on 89% of studied birds

The warblers—those harbingers of spring in the U.K.—have an unappreciated talent of a different sort. Common U.K. birds, including chiffchaffs and blackcaps, are playing a real role in the pollination of plants, according ...

Jul 5, 2026
Phys.org / How a new fungal genome-editing tool could open fresh paths to cancer treatments

Researchers have spent decades—and billions of dollars—sequencing animal and crop genomes, but fungi have historically been the forgotten middle child of genomics, only noticed when they're ruining bread or colonizing toes.

Jul 3, 2026
Phys.org / Newfound family ties link Scythian elite burials across the Eurasian steppe

A new ancient DNA study published in Science Advances provides evidence that political power among Scythian elites may have been inherited through family lineages that extended across multiple burial sites. By combining archaeology, ...

Jul 3, 2026
Phys.org / Mismatched work–life boundaries while working from home can push couples toward breaking up

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the way people work, making remote and work-from-home (WFH) jobs far more common than ever before. Even after social distancing ended, many companies and employees chose to stick with this ...

Jul 1, 2026
Phys.org / Physicists demonstrate Hong–Ou–Mandel interference with more than 10 atoms

In a new study published in Nature Physics, researchers have demonstrated the Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) effect with up to 12 indistinguishable neutral atoms—an effect that has been predominantly observed in photonic systems.

Jun 30, 2026
Phys.org / An iconic spear-throwing device likely wasn't used by prehistoric hunters until around 10,000 years ago

Archaeologists have long pictured prehistoric hunters taking down mammoths and other megafauna using the atlatl, a handheld spear-throwing device that uses leverage to achieve greater velocity and force when throwing darts. ...

Jun 30, 2026
Phys.org / Giant wheat starch granules—a leap forward in biological engineering with potential benefits for diet, manufacturing

Scientists have grown wheat containing supersized starch granules—a leap forward in biological engineering with potential benefits for our daily diets and a raft of industrial applications.

Jul 3, 2026
Phys.org / Wild yeast discovery enables non-GM brewing of ornithine-enriched craft beer

As consumer interest grows in foods and beverages with added nutritional value, brewers are exploring ways to improve fermentation itself rather than relying on post-production additives. Ornithine, a naturally occurring ...

Jul 5, 2026
Tech Xplore / Robots can now 'see' touch thanks to a new color-changing tactile sensor

Engineers at Queen Mary University of London have built a new color-changing tactile sensor, which allows robots to "see" and touch in real-time. The novel idea was invented by Giacomo Sasso, a postdoctoral researcher at ...

Jul 3, 2026