Phys.org news
Phys.org / Finger length could provide vital clue to understanding human brain evolution
The evolution of the human species is marked by an increase in brain size. Now new research suggests that could be partly dependent on increases in prenatal estrogen—revealed by looking at the length of a person's fingers. ...
Phys.org / Study links daily mental sharpness to 30 to 40 extra minutes of work
A new U of T Scarborough study finds that being mentally sharp can translate into a productivity boost equivalent to about 40 extra minutes of work each day.
Phys.org / Understanding the hazard potential of the Seattle fault zone: It's 'pretty close to home'
In the Pacific Northwest, big faults like the Cascadian subduction zone located offshore, get a lot of attention. But big faults aren't the only ones that pose significant hazards, and a new study investigates the dynamics ...
Phys.org / When gigantism shapes the diet of a superpredator: The Japanese giant salamander's spectacular transition
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Liège on a large population of Japanese giant salamanders—one of the largest amphibians in the world—reveals that above a certain size, a spectacular transition occurs ...
Phys.org / Detection system uses gravitational waves to map merging black holes
An international collaboration of astrophysicists that includes researchers from Yale has created and tested a detection system that uses gravitational waves to map out the locations of merging black holes—known as supermassive ...
Phys.org / Unlocking the 'black box' of Grand Canyon's water supply
Every year at Grand Canyon National Park, millions of visitors from all over the world stop at one of a dozen water spigots. Most people are on a rim, seeing the canyon's majesty for the first time, when they step off the ...
Phys.org / When Earth's magnetic field took its time flipping
Earth's magnetic field is generated by the churn of its liquid nickel-iron outer core, but it is not a constant feature. Every so often, the magnetic north and south poles swap places in what are called geomagnetic reversals, ...
Phys.org / A new comet was just discovered. Will it be visible in broad daylight?
A newly discovered comet has astronomers excited, with the potential to be a spectacular sight in early April. C/2026 A1 (MAPS) was spotted by a team of four amateur astronomers with a remotely operated telescope in the Atacama ...
Phys.org / Live-cell tracking reveals dynamic interaction between protein folding helpers and newly produced proteins
Proteins are the molecular machines of cells. They are produced in protein factories called ribosomes based on their blueprint—the genetic information. Here, the basic building blocks of proteins, amino acids, are assembled ...
Phys.org / The Amaterasu particle: Cosmic investigation traces its origin
Cosmic rays are extremely fast, charged particles that travel through space at nearly the speed of light. The Amaterasu particle was detected in 2021 by the Telescope Array experiment in the U.S. It is the second-highest-energy ...
Phys.org / How superconductivity arises: New insights from moiré materials
How exactly unconventional superconductivity arises is one of the central questions of modern solid-state physics. A new study published in the journal Nature provides crucial insights into this question. For the first time, ...
Phys.org / When lasers cross: A brighter way to measure plasma
Measuring conditions in volatile clouds of superheated gases known as plasmas is central to pursuing greater scientific understanding of how stars, nuclear detonations and fusion energy work. For decades, scientists have ...
