Phys.org news

Phys.org / NASA's Curiosity rover uncovers metal‑rich hotspot tied to ancient Martian lake

A team of scientists using the ChemCam instrument on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has discovered the highest amounts of iron, manganese, and zinc ever found together in Gale Crater on Mars. Minerals with these metals were ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Monkeys in Gibraltar self-medicate with soil to help them digest tourists' junk food

Monkeys in a tourism hotspot have learned that swallowing dirt can quell the upset stomachs caused by overconsumption of sweet and salty snacks fed to them by holidaymakers, a new University of Cambridge-led study suggests. ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Millions of atoms, shifting bonds—new software brings living chemistry into view

Chemical reactions drive life. They ensure that cells obtain energy, proteins perform their functions, and DNA changes under certain conditions. However, many of these processes occur on extremely small scales—so small and ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / ATLAS sets record limits on Higgs boson's self-interaction

One of the biggest open questions in particle physics today is how the Higgs boson interacts with itself. This "self-coupling" could help explain the evolution of the early universe and the mechanism that gives mass to elementary ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Measuring how stressed rocks 'sigh' before breaking could help predict geohazards

Too much stress can make even a rock crack. But before rocks reach their breaking point, they "sigh" a chemical warning by releasing nuclides, a type of atom defined by the number of neutrons as well as protons in the nucleus. ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden nest cameras debunk long-standing myth about how cuckoos lay their eggs

An international team of ornithologists has overturned one of the oldest assumptions in natural history by directly documenting how common cuckoos lay their eggs in host nests located inside cavities. The findings, published ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / First direct nanomagnet measurement finds switching attempts far slower than long-assumed

A compass always points north—or does it? Magnets normally maintain a stable direction of magnetization, pointing from south to north (S→N). However, this direction can change under strong magnetic fields or heat. For example, ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Wildfire-driven deforestation rates in California among highest in world

California has one of the highest rates of wildfire-driven deforestation in the world, and the trend has accelerated over the past three decades, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / How a faster protein-screening tool could strengthen US rare-earth supply chains

To ensure a robust domestic supply chain in the U.S., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists are using bacterial proteins to separate the rare-earth elements that are ubiquitous in magnets, batteries, and ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Turning four into two: How duplicated genomes become diploid again

Genome duplication probably gave biodiversity a decisive evolutionary boost. A Chinese-German research team led by Axel Meyer from the University of Konstanz has now investigated the early phases of the process known as rediploidization. ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Cosmetics from waste? Microbial discovery unlocks greener route to high-value chemical products

Researchers at University of Toronto's Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry have made a key discovery about how certain bacterial strains produce a set of economically valuable chemicals—opening the door ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / DNA's physical form helps direct gyrase activity and could reshape antibiotic design

New analytical methods developed at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions have increased our understanding of how bacteria manage DNA. The methods have enabled researchers to uncover how the sequence, ...

Apr 22, 2026