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Phys.org / Streaks on Mercury show that it is not a 'dead planet'

Although Mercury was geologically active in its early days, today its surface appears almost completely static. This is why it is often perceived as a dead and dry planet. A new study led by Dr. Valentin Bickel from the Center ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
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 / 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
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 / 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
Phys.org / Sea levels are rising—but in Greenland, they will fall

Even as global warming causes sea levels to rise worldwide, sea levels around Greenland will likely drop, according to a new paper published in Nature Communications. "The Greenland coastline is going to experience quite ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Global health impacts of plastics systems set to double by 2040

The adverse health impacts associated with emissions across the full life cycle of plastics could double by 2040 unless immediate action is taken, new research suggests. The study identified health harms at every stage of ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Tech Xplore / New study unveils ultra-high sensitivity broadband flexible photodetectors

A research team, affiliated with UNIST, has unveiled a flexible photodetector, capable of converting light across a broad spectrum—from visible to near-infrared—into electrical signals. This innovation promises significant ...

Jan 30, 2026 in Engineering
Medical Xpress / Leftover COVID spike fragments kill crucial immune cells but are less deadly in omicron

New research shows that after the body's defenses kill the virus behind COVID-19, leftover digested chunks of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can target specific immune cells based on their shape. The revelations could explain why ...

Phys.org / 'Spectral slimming' yields ultranarrow plasmons in single metal nanoparticles

Researchers have developed a new strategy to overcome a long-standing limitation in plasmonic loss by reshaping light–matter interactions through substrate engineering.

Jan 27, 2026 in Physics
Tech Xplore / Powering AI from space, at scale, with a passive tether design

Penn Engineers have developed a novel design for solar-powered data centers that will orbit Earth and could realistically scale to meet the growing demand for AI computing while reducing the environmental impact of data centers.

Jan 28, 2026 in Energy & Green Tech
Phys.org / Data-driven 3D chromosome model reveals structural and dynamic features of DNA

Chromosomes are masters of organization. These long strings of DNA fold down into an ensemble of compact structures that keep needed parts of the genome accessible while tucking away those that aren't used as often. Understanding ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology