Phys.org news

Phys.org / Entropy engineering opens new avenue for robust quantum anomalous Hall effect in 2D magnets

A research team from the University of Wollongong's (UOW) Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM) has addressed a 40-year-old quantum puzzle, unlocking a new pathway to creating next-generation electronic ...

32 minutes ago in Physics
Phys.org / New 3D glacier visualizations provide insights into a hotter Earth

As glaciers retreat due to a rise in global temperatures, one study shows that detailed 3D elevation models could drastically improve predictions about how they react to Earth's warming climate.

11 minutes ago in Earth
Phys.org / Living small in a big city: Urban Túngara frog tadpoles develop faster but end up being tinier

Have you ever wondered how city life affects animals like frogs? A new study reveals that urban Túngara frog tadpoles develop faster—but end up being smaller—than tadpoles from forests, probably resulting in smaller ...

32 minutes ago in Biology
Phys.org / Killer whales, kind gestures: Orcas offer food to humans in the wild

Like a proud cat leaving a bird on its owner's doorstep, orcas—also called killer whales—may sometimes offer to share their prey with humans, according to research published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology.

28 minutes ago in Biology
Phys.org / Ochre discovery in South African cave reveals advanced toolmaking during the Middle Stone Age

A new study from SapienCE reveals that early modern humans at Blombos Cave in South Africa used ochre as a specialized tool for stone toolmaking during the Middle Stone Age, demonstrating advanced technical skills far earlier ...

39 minutes ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Analysis provides day-by-day insight into prehistoric plankton's capacity for change

Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed a new way of analyzing fossils, allowing them to see how creatures from millions of years ago were shaped by their environment on a day-to-day basis for the first ...

1 hour ago in Biology
Phys.org / Genomes reveal the Norwegian lemming as one of the most recently evolved mammal species

Using whole genome sequencing and cutting‐edge analyses, researchers at Stockholm University have uncovered the surprising evolutionary history of the Norwegian lemming (Lemmus lemmus), revealing it to be one of the most ...

1 hour ago in Biology
Phys.org / Southern Ocean saltier, hotter and losing ice fast as decades-long trend unexpectedly reverses

Researchers have discovered a dramatic and unexpected shift in the Southern Ocean, with surface water salinity rising and sea ice in steep decline.

1 hour ago in Earth
Phys.org / Innovative clip-off chemistry enables fast and precise production of complex molecules

Researchers at the ICN2 and the UAB have developed a novel strategy to obtain different types of organic molecules by breaking down their molecular structures. This technique enables fast and precise production of these molecules ...

1 hour ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Common farm fungicide may be contributing to 'insect apocalypse'

A widely-used agricultural chemical sprayed on fruits and vegetables to prevent fungal disease is also killing beneficial insects that play a critical role in pollination and wider ecosystems.

1 hour ago in Biology
Phys.org / Engineering nano-clouds that can change color, temperature and outwit heat sensors

How does a cloud stay cool under direct sunlight––or seem to vanish in infrared? In nature, phenomena like white cumulus clouds, gray storm systems, and even the hollow hairs of polar bears offer remarkable lessons in ...

3 hours ago in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Webb refines Bullet Cluster mass and maps dark matter distribution

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope recently zeroed in on the Bullet Cluster—delivering highly detailed images that show a greater abundance of extremely faint and distant galaxies than ever before. Using Webb's crisp near-infrared ...

2 hours ago in Astronomy & Space