Phys.org news

Phys.org / Hidden jet from a 'missing-link' black hole lights up the radio sky

Astronomers using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) have detected an extraordinary burst of radio light from a rare cosmic event in which an intermediate-mass black hole tears apart a star, revealing ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Manganese risk in groundwater affects 200 million people, study shows

Manganese is an essential trace element. However, in excessive concentrations, the metal can cause health problems. Two Eawag researchers have now produced a global risk map for manganese in groundwater. Half of the world's ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / The language of play: Hyenas use facial expressions and vocalizations to de-escalate

Scientists observed spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) playing in the wild and found that their precise, sophisticated communication is on par with that of many primate species. Hyenas play and romp with one another at all ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Unraveling a long-standing solar mystery: The extreme thinness of the sun's tachocline layer

Researchers are closer to unraveling a longstanding solar mystery surrounding the extreme thinness of the sun's tachocline layer of strong shearing motion—a region believed to be critical for creating the violent eruptions ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient atmospheric oxygen found in iron ore deposits

How do some of geology's most mysterious iron ore deposits form? This question has preoccupied the geosciences for more than a century. An international research team led by Dr. Stefan Peters from the Leibniz Institute for ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Peru Amazon highway tied to 400% dengue surge within 5 kilometers of road

New roads bring changes to the regions they traverse. They can enable job opportunities, access to medicine and health care, and electricity. But they also disrupt local ecosystems and can have surprising consequences for ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Block-by-block AI maps uncover real urban air temperatures across 380 U.S. cities

Cities are often described as "heat islands," with media reports warning that some neighborhoods can be 20° F (7° C) hotter than others. But those temperatures are often based on satellite data rather than the conditions ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Indigenous peoples in the Amazon face massive cultural and ecological loss due to climate change

The Amazon region, Earth's most important ecosystem, is home to more than 400 Indigenous groups that use thousands of rainforest plant species. They pass on their knowledge of the flora primarily through oral tradition, usually ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Decoding of one of nature's largest enzymes reveals electron flow behind biological methane production

A research team at Marburg University has investigated one of the largest enzyme complexes found in nature to date and deciphered its remarkable structure. Under the supervision of Dr. Jan Schuller, Ph.D. student Sophia Paul ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Maize-fed animals may have helped Maya farmers solve corn's protein deficiency

Maize (corn) is a major dietary staple in Maya communities past and present because of its reliability, potential for surplus, and suitability as both food and fodder. It became so important to ancient Mesoamerican communities ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / Satellites are transforming biodiversity monitoring for global nature targets, but major gaps remain

A new scientific review outlines how satellites and other remote sensing technologies are increasingly shaping how biodiversity and ecosystem health can be monitored at scale—offering new opportunities for countries reporting ...

Jul 8, 2026
Phys.org / California wolves feed heavily on cattle and their presence causes significant stress among livestock

Two new studies examining gray wolves in California paint a complex picture of life on the state's ranching landscapes: Wolves eat cattle more than anything else, and the presence of the predators causes significant stress ...

Jul 8, 2026