Phys.org news

Phys.org / Genetic teamwork may be the secret to climate-resilient plants

A plant's success may depend on how well the three sets of genetic instructions it carries in its cells cooperate, according to a new study led by plant scientists at Penn State. In an analysis of the hybrids of two crossbred ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / New fossil study illuminates the evolutionary success of frogs

A new study led by UCC paleontologists discovered that frogs have conserved their ecology in the last 45 million years. The research is published in the journal iScience.

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Quantum mechanical molecular 'fingerprints' solve machine learning mystery

There is more than one way to describe a water molecule, especially when communicating with a machine learning (ML) model, says chemist Robert DiStasio. You can feed the algorithm the molecule's structural information: two ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / US congressmembers' responses on X to mass shooting events differ along party lines

Democratic congressmembers are significantly more likely to post on social media following a mass shooting event in the US compared to Republican congressmembers, according to a study published in PLOS Global Public Health ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Amplifying the beet: New tech makes for crunchier snacks

A new method of using microwave vacuum drying can create crispy beet snacks—a potential alternative to traditional drying or frying that could preserve nutrients while yielding shelf-stable products.

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / 'Ouzo effect' reveals how oil droplets can resist flow and form stable patterns in liquids

Whether it's Greek ouzo, French pastis or Turkish raki, when these spirits are diluted with water, the mixture becomes cloudy. The reason for this is that the aniseed oils contained in the spirit dissolve well in alcohol ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / LLMs unleash AI's potential for autonomous and explainable materials discovery

Discovering new inorganic materials is central to advancing technologies in catalysis, energy storage, semiconductors, and more. But finding a material with just the right properties is extremely difficult. What if an AI ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Warmer ocean currents significantly destabilize ice sheets, driving their retreat

New research reveals how ocean warming triggered the large-scale retreat of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS)—offering vital clues for understanding its modern-day vulnerability.

Dec 17, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / A 3D-printed Christmas tree made entirely of ice

A team of physicists from the University of Amsterdam's Institute of Physics has 3D-printed a Christmas tree made entirely of ice. Researchers Menno Demmenie, Stefan Kooij and Daniel Bonn used no freezing technology or refrigeration ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / New fossil lungfish from Yunnan sheds light on critical stage of early vertebrate evolution

A research team led by Prof. Zhu Min—a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and affiliated with the CAS Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP)—has identified a new species of fossil ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Subsystem resetting: Researchers discover a new route to control phase transitions in complex systems

Researchers in the Department of Theoretical Physics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, have discovered that instead of manipulating every component or modifying interactions in a many-body system, ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / GoMars model simulates 50-year Martian dust cycle

Mars is a dusty planet dominated by vast, dry deserts, with no easily accessible sources of liquid water. Much like on Earth, dust is lifted from Mars's surface by wind and rotating air columns, transported through the atmosphere, ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Astronomy & Space