Phys.org news

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
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 / 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 / Sweeping analysis shows prestige, topic and location matter most to get research published

Scientists from prestigious universities and large research groups are significantly more likely to have their research published in general-interest, top-tier scientific journals. Meanwhile, authors based in China and those ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Desert dust in Europe is increasing with implications for health and solar energy installations

While particulate matter air pollution from human activity in transportation, households and industry is decreasing in Europe, thanks to strict regulations, another source is developing in the opposite direction: desert dust.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Nanoscale gaps reveal new design rule for atom-thin chips and memory

Researchers at the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore have identified a key design principle for building reliable electronics from materials only one atomic layer thick, giving engineers ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Not the greatest glider: First study puts Australia's biggest glider to the test

Australia's largest gliding marsupial may not be the country's best glider after all, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU) that challenges a decades-old belief about how far southern greater ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Seals filter sound through blood-filled tissue to hear underwater, study reveals

The secret of how seals can hear in air and water has been revealed, thanks to pioneering research led by Natural History Museum scientists.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Oxygenic photosynthesis works with one photosystem, overturning 50-year textbook rule

LMU researchers demonstrate that oxygenic photosynthesis can occur with only a single photosystem, overturning a fundamental principle of biology.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Biodiversity boosts productivity most during extreme drought in drier grasslands

When extreme drought strikes, drier grasslands receive the greatest productivity benefit from biodiversity. By contrast, forests did not show the same context-dependent pattern under drought, according to a new global synthesis ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Frame-dragging observations validate Einstein yet again

More than a century after Albert Einstein first transformed our understanding of gravity, his general theory of relativity continues to withstand ever more demanding experimental tests. Now, an international team led by Ignazio ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Two atmospheric patterns may explain why some heat waves in Europe persist

Many parts of Western Europe are currently wilting under a heat wave. These blistering spells can last for a week or more, and although they are common in most summers, it is difficult to predict how long they will last.

Jul 14, 2026