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Phys.org / Record-breaking heat wave grips western US
A record early heat wave striking the west of the United States on Friday is a one-in-500-years type event and all but certainly the result of human-caused climate change, experts say.
Phys.org / The cactus on your desk is an evolution speed machine
The cactus on your windowsill may grow slowly, but new research shows that cacti are surprisingly fast at creating new species. Biologists have long thought that pollinators and specialized flowers drive the formation of ...
Phys.org / Using fiber-optic cables to detect moonquakes
Two recent studies suggest that fiber-optic cables laid directly on the moon's surface could potentially detect moonquakes, offering a simpler way to gather seismic data to support future human and robotic exploration.
Medical Xpress / What is Flumist, the new flu vaccine for kids that's sprayed in their noses?
Many kids are scared of getting needles, and this can stop them getting vaccinations that protect that against the flu. Less than 1 in 4 Australian children were vaccinated against influenza in 2025.
Phys.org / New paper outlines pathways to equitable flood adaptation
While parts of New York and New Jersey were "building back better" after Superstorm Sandy, residents of flood-prone public housing in Rockaway, Queens, were left without heat or running water for years.
Phys.org / Molecular chains with bite: Customized carbon nanoribbons open a cleaner path to molecular electronics
The longest chains of the conductive polymer poly(p-phenylene; PPP) produced to date are just under one micrometer (thousandth of a millimeter) long—almost an order of magnitude longer than previously possible. A research ...
Phys.org / Wheat's immune system uses novel protein complex, study finds
Plant immunity is largely initiated at the cellular level, with each cell capable of autonomous detection and response, while also coordinating systemic signaling across the organism—unlike the centralized, cell-based immune ...
Phys.org / Ultrathin BiFeO₃ breaks the 30 nm limit, delivering fourfold stronger piezoelectricity
Piezoelectric materials, which convert mechanical stress into electricity and vice versa, are essential components in sensors, actuators, and energy-harvesting devices. However, the best piezoelectric materials, such as lead ...
Phys.org / Vertical gardens prove effective in improving indoor air quality
Researchers at the University of Seville have demonstrated the effectiveness of active vertical garden systems in improving indoor air quality in buildings. To do so, they worked inside a closed glass chamber installed at ...
Phys.org / Satellite data reconstruct 2025 LA fires, showing rapid spread in first day
A severe drought, powerful Santa Ana winds and a not-fully-extinguished brushfire combined to create the most destructive wildfire in the history of Los Angeles in early 2025. The Palisades Fire, which fully ignited on Jan. ...
Phys.org / Laser-assisted electron scattering seen with circularly polarized light for the first time
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have succeeded in detecting laser-assisted electron scattering (LAES) using circularly polarized light for the first time. The use of circularly polarized light promises valuable ...
Phys.org / Why heights and snakes still hit harder: Study tracks fear sweat in 119 people
Fear-eliciting images of modern and ancestral threats are equally likely to evoke physiological reactions, despite their distinct evolutionary origins, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by ...