Phys.org news

Phys.org / Nickelate superconductors share a common electronic fingerprint

Superconductors, materials that conduct electricity with zero electrical resistance at specific temperature ranges, have proved very promising for the development of quantum computers and other cutting-edge technologies. ...

23 minutes ago
Phys.org / Superheated magma may explain why similar volcanoes erupt in very different ways

Scientists have shed light on a thermal process in magma that may help explain why similar volcanic systems can produce very different eruptive behaviors.

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Antibiotics drive resistance in waterways—even after they break down

Antibiotics continue to drive resistance in bacteria, even after they are broken down in wastewater treatment plants and discharged into rivers and seas, new research published on World Oceans Day has shown for the first ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Wonderwerk Cave bones reveal possible fire use by human ancestors 1.79 million years ago

The discovery of fire was a major milestone in human evolution, giving our ancestors a way to stay warm, ward off predators, and eventually start cooking food. But exactly when this first happened is still intensely debated, ...

16 hours ago
Phys.org / Quantum circuits help AI overcome memory limitations with minimal new parameters

For millions of people, chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) are now a key feature of everyday life. These AI systems are growing at a rapid pace, but scaling them up is becoming increasingly costly and resource-intensive.

21 hours ago
Phys.org / Lunar orbiter concept could reveal five key elements across moon in two years

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a newly developed, compact X-ray telescope could be used to map the chemical composition of the entire lunar surface, a vital breakthrough ...

14 hours ago
Phys.org / How gene swapping helped build the planet's decomposers

Decomposers are crucial for keeping Earth habitable, breaking down dead biomass and returning key nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, to the ecosystem. Most decomposers, including fungi, survive through osmotrophy—a ...

14 hours ago
Phys.org / Continuous stirring made early life-like RNA systems more extinction-prone, experiment shows

Recent research showed that an artificially constructed self-replicating RNA system modeling primitive life at the origin of life evolved to become more prone to extinction under certain experimental conditions.

15 hours ago
Phys.org / Epigenetic changes can be inherited without changing DNA in animals

Typically, the information encoded in DNA allows organisms to develop, function, and pass traits across generations. Yet DNA alone does not explain how genes are switched on and off in different cells and environments. This ...

17 hours ago
Phys.org / Gold nanoparticles unlock vibrant structural colors across the visible spectrum

Colloidal photonic glasses offer an appealing way to produce vivid colors without any chemical dyes—but so far, a stubborn optical effect has long prevented them from generating a true red color. Now, Yuwon Jeon and colleagues ...

19 hours ago
Phys.org / 'Flawless on the outside, flipped within': Detecting hidden defects in 2D dielectrics with light

A material may appear flawless on the surface yet fail to function properly. The cause lies in structural defects hidden within two-dimensional thin films, which are considered key materials for next-generation semiconductor ...

15 hours ago
Phys.org / Terahertz biophotonics: Understanding the path towards practical applications for biological imaging

Biophotonics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the development and application of light-based technologies to study, monitor and treat biological systems. The ability to directly image cells and molecules has led ...

21 hours ago