Phys.org news

Phys.org / From dust to planets: Parabolic flight reveal a turbulent path

How does fine dust aggregate into building blocks that ultimately form entire planets like our Earth? A research team led by the University of Bern, with the participation of ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich and the National ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Past intensive whaling threatens the future of bowhead whales

A unique collection of prehistoric bowhead whale bones, dating back 11,000 years, reveals a previously untold story of the relative impacts of humans on nature. The time series of ancient fossils show that commercial hunting ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / New rare bird species discovered in Japan

A previously unknown species of leaf warbler has been discovered in Japan. The Ijima's Leaf Warbler has proven to be two different species, not just one. Every year, a few new bird species are identified around the world. ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Charcoal records reveal 'unprecedented' wildfires in tropical peatlands during 20th century

A new study reveals an unprecedented increase in wildfires in tropical peatlands during the 20th century. "Unprecedented burning in tropical peatlands during the 20th century compared to the previous two millennia" is published ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / When it comes to networks, nature has an edge

Networks exist in both nature—such as biological systems like food webs and gene regulatory networks—and in engineered systems as seen in power grids. Though natural and engineered systems share an overarching goal—providing ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / What's in your lipstick and water? New test flags hidden mutagens

Substances capable of mutating human genetic material—altering and permanently damaging it—are present in many everyday products. Researchers at Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) have, for the first time, detected ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Nano 3D metallic parts turn out to be surprisingly strong despite defects

Scientists at Caltech have figured out how to precisely engineer tiny three-dimensional (3D) metallic pieces with nanoscale dimensions. The process can work with any metal or metal alloy and yields components of surprising ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / 'Conflict entrepreneurs': Examining divisive political rhetoric and the pursuit of celebrity by politicians

American politics is increasingly characterized by high levels of polarization and divisive rhetoric, despite stated preferences among voters for civility and substantive debate. Sean J. Westwood and colleagues sought to ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / AI model improves flood forecasting with higher accuracy than current methods

New paired studies from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities show that machine learning can improve the prediction of floods. The studies, published in Water Resources Research and the Proceedings of the IEEE International ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Graphene sensors stay stable in liquids, boosting sensitivity up to 20 times

Accurately measuring small shifts in biological markers, like proteins and neurotransmitters, or harmful chemicals in the water supply, can identify critical problems before they have a chance to impact patients or the environment. ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Genetic analyses show that many sponge species in the Indo-Pacific are regionally unique

The Indo-Pacific is the largest marine biogeographical region on Earth and a global center of marine biodiversity. Nevertheless, there are gaps remaining in our understanding of the diversity, distribution, and endemism of ...

Mar 17, 2026
Phys.org / Mathematical foundations for noise-tolerant quantum catalysts in real-world environments

Quantum catalysts are specialized resources that enable quantum state transformations previously thought impossible, holding promise for advancements in quantum computing and thermodynamics. A recent international study has ...

Mar 17, 2026