Phys.org news

Phys.org / The strange quantum property of tomorrow's insulator

Ultra-fast data transfer and superconductivity: Quantum materials offer significant technological prospects—if we can understand them at the atomic scale. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), in collaboration with ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Monkey see, monkey do: Study sheds light on cooperative decision-making

The old "monkey see, monkey do" adage may rest on some neuroscientific evidence, finds a new Yale study. To examine how the primate brain facilitates cooperative behavior among individuals during social interaction, a team ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / DNA 'nicks' make for safer, more precise genetic analysis

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a safer and more precise way to study how genes function in living tissues by refining a recently developed CRISPR-based genetic technique in fruit flies, enabling researchers ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Lake Erie produces 'forbidden soup' of rotating potential toxins

Municipalities and federal agencies monitor U.S. waters for microcystins, a toxin produced by harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, but a University of Michigan study shows that the blooms produce a greater range of potentially ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Long-distance bat migration runs on fatty acids, challenging limits of mammal metabolism

Bats are the only mammals that can actively fly, enabling many species to perform seasonal migrations. In migratory birds, remaining airborne for many hours is supported by burning fatty acids, something most mammals are ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / As snow droughts continue to threaten global food security, research calls for climate-resilient agriculture practices

Global climate change is reshaping agricultural ecosystems. As warmer winters become more prevalent, snow droughts caused by insufficient snowfall are becoming more frequent. This leaves winter wheat, which relies on snow ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Temporary carbon removal could help support climate goals, if used correctly

Persistent methane emissions from sectors such as agriculture and growing debates over the credibility of carbon offsets are creating new challenges for governments and companies pursuing net-zero commitments. New research ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Sea squirt reveals glowing spines and unexpected nervous system anatomy

Ascidians, also known as sea squirts, are the evolutionary link between vertebrates and invertebrates, making them valuable subjects of biological studies. For the first time, researchers at Ruhr University Bochum have detected ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Women's faces outrank men's in attractiveness across cultures, global study shows

Why are women considered the "fairer sex" in humans, when in most animal species it is males that display the more elaborate and visually striking traits? This question has intrigued researchers since Darwin. A new large-scale ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Single tissue snapshot reveals biological processes unfolding over time

A core challenge in biology is understanding how processes in the body, such as cellular development and regeneration, unfold over long stretches of time, making them notoriously difficult to view at the molecular level. ...

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / NASA lays out moon base plans with landers, buggies and drones at the top of the list

NASA is already ordering landers, rovers and drones for a sprawling moon base, less than two months after the Artemis II's record-breaking lunar flyaround.

May 27, 2026
Phys.org / Corn Belt groundwater and irrigation boost thunderstorm complexes by 24–35%, simulations show

An international team of scientists has demonstrated how powerful thunderstorm complexes over the U.S. Corn Belt are fueled by moisture rising from the region's fertile fields or just beneath them. The findings can lead to ...

May 27, 2026