Phys.org news

Phys.org / Discontinuity and disorder: Explaining the luminosity bump in evolved stars

Toward the end of their lives, low-mass stars undergo an abrupt dip in brightness, also known as the luminosity bump. While the endpoint of this bump is well understood, its onset has remained elusive. Now, in a paper published ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Electrical fingerprint on tiny cell particles could offer new way to spot pancreatic cancer signals

An electrical fingerprint found on tiny particles in the blood may help detect signs of pancreatic cancer that are often overlooked, according to new research from Rice University. The researchers developed a device that ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Families' interest in their kids' education is falling around the globe as scores drop, test shows

Families' interest in their kids' education is falling in many high-income countries as school systems struggle with plunging test scores, according to newly released results from a standardized test taken by 15-year-olds ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Fossil ribs reveal new secrets about ichthyosaur swimming technique

Ichthyosaurs ruled the oceans for 150 million years during the Mesozoic Era. Their fish-shaped bodies were built for high speeds. In that context, it is normally an advantage to be as light as possible.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / 'Here, There and Everywhere': The Beatles have permeated research papers across academic disciplines

More than 3,000 scientific article titles across disciplines have made use of Beatles song titles and lyrics, according to a study published in PLOS One by Gabriel Budel of Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers chart new course for AI-powered biomedical discoveries

University of Missouri researchers are paving the way as artificial intelligence transforms biomedical research. A team from the College of Engineering and collaborators recently published one of the most comprehensive reviews ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Molecular surface design achieves over 100 million-fold tuning of porous liquid viscosity

Porous liquids combine permanent nanoscale cavities with fluidity, making them promising for applications like carbon dioxide capture, gas separation and other chemical processes. Their viscosity must be tailored to the intended ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / AI reveals new class of cellular 'off switch' linked to cancer pathways

Cornell researchers have used artificial intelligence to uncover a previously unknown way cells control how proteins move inside them, a process essential for growth, communication and movement that is often disrupted in ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Natural clay reveals a new way to control ion transport at the angstrom scale

Researchers at the National Graphene Institute have shown that naturally occurring channels within a common clay mineral can respond to pressure, voltage and pH, offering possibilities for controlling the movement of ions ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / These bacteria can change their diet to survive inside the body

The human body fights staph infections by starving it of essential nutrients. Staph, it turns out, is remarkably good at changing what's on the menu. Staphylococcus aureus—the infamous agent behind MRSA and most staph infections—needs ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Layer-based design offers new route to topological magnets

Topological quantum materials combine unusual electronic states with properties such as magnetism or superconductivity, offering possibilities for future electronics and quantum technologies. Researchers at Tohoku University ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Asian elephants can resist impulsive behavior, researchers find

Researchers at the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College have found that Asian elephants can suppress impulsive behaviors and adjust their actions when circumstances change—a cognitive ability that may help explain the ...

Sep 9, 2026