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Phys.org / Fine-particle pollution may undermine plants' ability to absorb carbon and conserve water

Researchers at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have discovered that fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) significantly impairs plants' ability to use water efficiently and absorb carbon dioxide.

Aug 19, 2026
Phys.org / Labrador Sea a key player in providing oxygen for deep North Atlantic life

Researchers from Cornell University have pinpointed the source of oxygen that sustains deep-sea life in the North Atlantic Ocean: the churning waters in the Labrador Sea.

Aug 17, 2026
Medical Xpress / Cannabis use linked to earlier onset of psychosis

Cannabis users develop psychosis an average of two-and-a-half years earlier than nonusers, a new meta-analysis by UNSW Sydney researchers shows. This earlier onset of psychosis becomes more pronounced with age, stretching ...

Aug 18, 2026
Phys.org / Curved surfaces reshape active materials, localizing vibrations near defects

Many materials, both living and engineered, are powered from within. Scientists have thoroughly investigated how such 'active' materials operate, but so far, mostly in circumstances where the curvature of the environment ...

Aug 18, 2026
Phys.org / Locust neurons detect PFAS at environmentally relevant levels, pointing to portable sensors

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that neurons in a locust's brain can distinguish among multiple PFAS compounds, including PFOS, one of the world's most common "forever chemicals," at environmentally ...

Aug 17, 2026
Tech Xplore / Workplace AI learns to read more like humans by breaking documents into multiple levels

Modern artificial intelligence (AI) platforms can summarize reports, analyze documents and answer questions in seconds. But when information is spread across dozens of slides, charts and tables, even advanced models can miss ...

Aug 18, 2026
Phys.org / Climate doom may discourage climate action, but there's a way to counter it

Every summer is getting hotter. Wildfires are blazing, and the worst is yet to come. There's nothing to be done—we're doomed! Sound familiar?

Aug 18, 2026
Tech Xplore / AI agents struggle to perform original scientific research

Among the many predictions about the future of artificial intelligence is that models will one day be able to conduct scientific research on their own, leaving humans out of the equation. Already, they can write code, run ...

Aug 14, 2026
Phys.org / Rare satellite data reveal major limits in flood models

The Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine was destroyed on June 6, 2023. The event unleashed a catastrophic flood that forced thousands of residents to evacuate their communities as water levels rose 10 feet (3 meters) above normal.

Aug 18, 2026
Phys.org / Legacy of colonial biodiversity exploitation explains poverty in biodiversity-rich countries

Nature provides resources to society, and the diversity of species (think of pollinators, for example) is expected to underpin human economies. So why are the poorest countries also those richest in wildlife, containing a ...

Aug 19, 2026
Tech Xplore / Polymer cage extends zinc-iodine battery life beyond 60,000 cycles

While soaring demand for lithium-ion batteries pushes prices higher, Flinders University experts are making headway in developing a safe, more sustainable aqueous zinc-iodine rechargeable battery. In their latest study, published ...

Aug 18, 2026
Phys.org / A weakening Atlantic Ocean current system could accelerate Earth's warming

A current system in the Atlantic Ocean that shapes regional climates and distributes ocean nutrients also serves as a control knob to help regulate temperatures across the planet, new research has found.

Aug 17, 2026