Phys.org news

Phys.org / Adolescent social media restrictions may reduce some harms while shifting others, warn experts

Amrit Kaur Purba and colleagues argue that social media restrictions operate within a wider system of adolescents, families, schools, governments and commercial actors—and therefore should be treated as complex systems interventions ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / New study pinpoints Europe's most critical wetlands for climate action

Wetlands have shaped human life in Europe since ancient times. These ecosystems provided essential resources and safe havens for plants and animals, and in many regions they also held spiritual and ritual significance. For ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Large precolonial villages in the Brazilian Cerrado practiced maize-based polyculture, evidence reveals

For decades, researchers have debated the subsistence strategies of precolonial societies in the Brazilian Cerrado (tropical savanna): Were they hunter-gatherers or intensive maize farmers, and in either case, how did they ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Healthier, more sustainable diets could reshape global agriculture: New study shows by how much

There is a clear need to shift toward healthier and more sustainable food systems. According to the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Report, global adoption of a flexitarian Planetary Health Diet could prevent around 15 million ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Does teleworking reduce carbon emissions? It depends on how you do it

Teleworking—including working from home, coworking or working from other third places—can reduce carbon emissions by eliminating commutes. But if you're not careful, this benefit will be offset by the carbon cost of work-related ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Marsupial newborns get early arms as embryos bypass usual limb-building sequence

Scientists have discovered that marsupial forelimbs (arms) develop much earlier before birth than previously thought, providing new insights into evolutionary innovation and biology.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Climate impact research needs more real-world data, study suggests

European cities are experimenting with hundreds of climate solutions, from green roofs to electric vehicles, in hopes of adapting to the warmer world around us. But despite a growing body of research on these solutions, we ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Epigenetic mechanism explains how some plants cope with salt stress

Due to artificial irrigation and rising temperatures, the concentration of salts (including sodium chloride, or "table salt") is increasing in soils worldwide. This is not only an environmental problem but also a challenge ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / The secret to hydrogen's quantum behavior lies in symmetry

As interest in clean hydrogen power grows, so does the need for safe storage and transportation materials. One such material, vanadium, is a leading candidate because it readily absorbs hydrogen and allows it to move through ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists explain how nucleolus sub-compartments drive ribosome assembly

The nucleolus is a liquid-like cellular organelle where protein factories called ribosomes are assembled. Researchers knew of three distinct compartments within the nucleolus, but how these compartments function to drive ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Medaka males can mate 27 times daily, but sperm performance drops fast

Oryzias latipes, commonly known as medaka, is a small fish measuring about 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 inches) in length that exhibits highly active spawning behavior during the breeding season. Previous research by an Osaka Metropolitan ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Bone 'fingerprints' unlock hidden stories of underwater caves

Bones preserved in underwater caves offer a rare and powerful window into the past—but until now, researchers have had limited tools to understand how the remains of extinct megafauna and other animals came to rest in their ...

Jul 15, 2026