Phys.org news

Phys.org / Space telescopes track nearby quasar's dramatic X-ray state transition

By analyzing the data from various space observatories, Chinese astronomers have inspected a nearby quasar designated SDSS J000532.84+200717.4. Results of the new study, published April 1 on the arXiv preprint server, shed ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Astronomers find evidence for three subpopulations of merging black holes

Astronomers analyzing gravitational-wave data from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration have reported that merging binary black holes fall into three distinct categories. The study shows that the three subpopulations have their ...

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Hackers meet their match: New DNA encryption protects engineered cells from within

Engineered cells are a high-value genetic asset that is key to many fields, including biotechnology, medicine, aging, and stem cell research, with the global market projected to reach $8.0 trillion USD by 2035. Yet the only ...

19 hours ago
Phys.org / High-resolution imaging captures cavity-induced density waves in a quantum gas

A new study, published in Physical Review Letters, reports that scientists have successfully imaged the formation of cavity-induced density waves induced by laser light in an ultracold quantum gas. Previously, only global ...

22 hours ago
Phys.org / Flux pathway reveals why mussel-like liquid phase separation can happen in seconds

Have you ever wondered how mussels instantly glue themselves to rocks, allowing them to survive the crushing force of ocean waves? They complete this process in under 30 seconds. Yet, in a laboratory, replicating this process ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / A nanoscale robotic cleaner can hunt, capture and remove bacteria

Tiny robots—around 50 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair—open up fascinating possibilities: they enable the controlled manipulation of objects far too small for human hands. This brings us closer to a long-standing ...

20 hours ago
Phys.org / Saturday Citations: Octopus behavior; children's nightmares; the fast effects of meditation

Happy Saturday! This week, researchers reported on the familiar phenomenon of speeding away from a slower-driving car only to have it catch up at the next traffic light—they've named it Voorhees law, after the well-known ...

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / Microbial hockey: Scientists discover how bacteria rotate tiny pucks

At the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Jérémie Palacci's research group is venturing into metallurgy—albeit with a twist. Instead of traditional tools, the scientists use E. coli bacteria, often associated ...

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / 'Poor man's Majoranas' can be used as quantum spin probes

A Majorana fermion is a particle that would be identical to its antiparticle. Such an object has not yet been found. However, certain solid materials exhibit analogous behavior as if Majorana fermions were present through ...

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / After Artemis II, NASA looks to SpaceX, Blue Origin for moon landings

With Artemis II successfully completing its historic lunar mission on Friday, NASA is banking on billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk for the next step: landing astronauts on the moon.

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / Worsening ocean heat waves are 'supercharging' hurricane damage, study finds

Marine heat waves are supercharging damage caused by hurricanes and tropical cyclones across the globe, a new study found.

Apr 11, 2026
Phys.org / Search for dark matter intensifies as leading detector reaches milestone

Deep underground in a Canadian mine, a refrigerator nearly 1,000 times colder than outer space has just reached its target temperature—a milestone that brings scientists one step closer to potentially detecting dark matter, ...

Apr 10, 2026