Phys.org news

Phys.org / Brazilian sedge reproduces sexually but without DNA reshuffling, producing genetic clones

Sexual reproduction usually reshuffles genetic information, creating offspring that differ from their parents. But one small plant takes an unexpected route. In a new study published in Nature, an international team led by ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / The local costs of remote sensing: Examining the ethics of laser scanning in tropical forests

Laser scanning, often referred to as lidar, has rapidly transformed how tropical forest regions are studied, monitored and understood across academic disciplines. The technology enables researchers to peer through dense forest ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / AI struggles to decipher 'animal language' because sound doesn't equal meaning, experts say

In recent years, numerous attempts have been made to use artificial intelligence to decipher the communication of bats, whales, birds and other animals. However, a new study led by a team of researchers from Tel Aviv University ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Engineers solve puzzle of Arctic sea ice movement

Arctic sea ice moves and spreads in ways that wind alone cannot explain. A new UC Riverside-led study finds that collisions between individual pieces of ice provide a surprisingly simple explanation for these movements, potentially ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Compact optical screen could pave the way for cheaper infrared cameras

New research led by the ARC Center of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS) at the University of Melbourne demonstrates a new way to make invisible infrared light visible without relying on the expensive ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / 'Born-again' star offers rare chance to watch stellar evolution in real time

Astronomers have confirmed that one of the fastest-changing stars ever observed has entered a new stage of its evolution, offering a rare opportunity to watch a star's life unfold on human timescales.

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Deep ocean, familiar trash: Plastic waste found alongside possible new species

It's no secret that plastic and other human trash are a problem for marine life, but our understanding has long focused on the ocean's surface. As described in a study published in PLOS One, a more complete picture is coming ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / The Mediterranean is getting warmer and saltier at an ever-faster pace—even thousands of meters below the surface

Across its basins and thousands of meters down, the Mediterranean Sea is getting warmer and saltier. Now, a new study finds it is also doing so at an increasingly rapid pace. The speedup is largest in the central and eastern ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Bacterial invasion proteins could improve detection of live crop pathogens

Scientists, clinicians, seed companies and others may soon have a new tool in their toolkit for detecting bacterial pathogens, thanks to a new study by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. The research—published ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Fungi neutralize spruce defense mechanisms with sugar

A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology discovered a previously unknown strategy by which certain fungi neutralize spruce defense compounds. These fungi are introduced into trees by bark beetles, ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Hedgehog coronaviruses may threaten cats more than humans, new study finds

Washington State University researchers have discovered how a group of coronaviruses circulating in hedgehogs invades host cells, a key to understanding their potential to jump between species and their risk of causing a ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Ice Age carvers used mammoth tusk patterns to create unique art, study finds

Intricate designs engraved across the surface of 18,000-year-old female figurines carved from mammoth ivory were inspired by the distinctive growth patterns visible in the tusks, a new study published in the journal npj Heritage ...

Sep 16, 2026