Phys.org news

Phys.org / Timor green pigeon 'likely to go extinct' without urgent action, according to scientists

The Timor green pigeon, which is under pressure from hunting and habitat loss, is at serious risk of extinction and should be uplisted to Critically Endangered, according to a new study from researchers at Charles Darwin ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / A skull full of surprises: Discovering the evolutionary secrets of fish brains

A new study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals the surprising neurological landscape of fish brains. Harvard researchers map the internal structures of ray-finned fishes' brains in 3D detail, discovering brain ...

May 5, 2026
Dialog / 'Solar-blind' 2D heterostructure delivers 422-fold responsivity gain for UV sensing

Photodetectors remain a critical component in the development of advanced electronics and photonics, particularly in the role of signal readout through the conversion of photons into electrons. These digital imaging components ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Polymer 'bristles' could help repel proteins—and germs—from surfaces in medical settings

A non-toxic coating developed by researchers at University of Toronto Engineering prevents proteins from sticking to surfaces—potentially offering a new tool in the fight against hospital-acquired infections.

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Dog training choices may reflect owners' ethical views on animals

Whether a dog owner rewards their dog with a treat or corrects it by pulling on the leash is not simply a matter of what they believe to be the most effective training method. According to the study, owners' choice of training ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Cryo-EM imaging reveals how the body stops bleeding

For the first time, scientists at University of Leeds reveal a complex mechanism behind blood clotting. The findings, published in Science Advances, visualize a key component of blood clotting—platelet myosin—and how it is ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Where was Baltica 616 million years ago? Paleomagnetic data offer revised answer

About 600 million years ago, the continents wandered Earth, yet to settle into their current positions. Their locations during the Ediacaran (as this time is called) have been tough for scientists to pin down. Earth's magnetic ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Water and 13 hallmarks of complexity trace path from molecules to life

Many properties of molecules cannot be predicted from the properties of the atoms they consist of. These properties only emerge when they are combined—a phenomenon known in science as "emergence." A publication by Goethe ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny insect brain discovery offers a blueprint for faster and more efficient AI and robots

The secret behind insects' lightning-fast reactions could offer a blueprint for more energy-efficient robots and self-driving cars, according to a new study challenging our understanding of how brains process information. ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Digitizing microscope slides can uncover billions of fossils for natural history

Approximately 145 million: That's the number of specimens—including plants, animals, minerals, and human artifacts—curators estimate are held in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. However, these estimates ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Chemistry-aware AI can generate millions of plausible new molecules

Finding and developing new molecules is one of the great research endeavors of modern chemistry. From the development of new drugs to the creation of more sustainable materials, everything depends on finding new combinations ...

May 5, 2026
Phys.org / Dairy farms in California may transmit H5N1 virus through multiple sources

The H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in over 700 herds of dairy cows in California, the largest dairy-producing state in the U.S. A study published in PLOS Biology led by Seema S. Lakdawala ...

May 5, 2026