Phys.org news

Phys.org / Mars reveals first Zwan-Wolf effect deep in its atmosphere during a solar storm

In December 2023, scientists looking at Mars data stumbled across something completely unexpected—observations of an atmospheric effect never before seen in the Red Planet's atmosphere. Using instruments aboard NASA's MAVEN ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Galactic collision may have reset Milky Way disk 11 billion years ago

A new study led by researchers at the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) reveals how the disks of galaxies like the Milky Way are affected ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Behold the neuron, a complicated cell with a simple mission

Neurons, the uber-connected nerve cells that act as a main switchboard for the brain, are central to some incredibly complicated processes. They make it possible to think, walk, speak, and breathe. They even have built-in ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / From wetland sediment, scientists uncover centuries of climate chaos—and human resilience

The climate of the ancient Eastern Mediterranean was far more turbulent than previously thought—and a new study suggests that people adapted anyway. An international team of scientists, spearheaded by UC San Diego's Center ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient burial practices emerge from Laos' mysterious Plain of Jars

Hundreds of stone jars, some weighing several tons, are scattered across the remote uplands of northern Laos. Despite being researched for nearly a century, their purpose remains uncertain. "Archaeologists generally agree ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Careful crystallization unlocks well-ordered perovskite layers for transistors

Perovskites are a class of materials with a unique crystal structure that suits applications such as fabricating solar cells, light-emitting diodes and transistors. However, molecules in thin layers often cannot arrange themselves ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Prototype sets record for optical quantum information technology

Chinese scientists have developed a programmable quantum computing prototype called Jiuzhang 4.0 that has set a new world record for optical quantum information technology, according to a study published May 13 in the journal ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Mapping how 'Big AI' influences AI laws and oversight

Artificial intelligence (AI) companies influence policy and regulation using similar techniques to Big Tobacco, Big Pharma and Big Oil, according to a new study.

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Reconfigurable Ge-Si photodetector achieves ultrahigh-speed data transmission using low-loss packaging

The rapid growth of large language models is placing increasing demands on data centers, where large volumes of data must be transferred efficiently between servers. Optical interconnects are essential for enabling this communication, ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Eyes that photosynthesize: Scientists plant a cure for dry eye disease

What if eyes could use light to heal themselves? Drawing inspiration from how plants harness sunlight, researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) are pioneering a revolutionary treatment for dry eye disease. ...

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / 370 billion crickets are farmed for food every year. Scientists have discovered they may feel pain

You're cooking dinner, distracted, and your hand brushes a hot pan. Nerve signals race to your spinal cord and back to yank your arm away in a fraction of a second, with no thought required.

May 18, 2026
Phys.org / Even after adopting cattle, early east African herders kept hunting and gathering for 1,000 years

Eastern Africa's earliest livestock herders continued fishing, hunting and gathering for centuries after livestock were first brought to the region. The first pastoralists in eastern Africa didn't suddenly switch to a diet ...

May 18, 2026