Phys.org news

Phys.org / JWST spots most distant jellyfish galaxy to date

Astrophysicists from the University of Waterloo have observed a new jellyfish galaxy, the most distant one of its kind ever captured. Jellyfish galaxies are named for the long, tentacle-like streams that trail behind them. ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Horses with over 30 minutes of REM sleep show better persistence in learning tasks

Just as for humans, sufficient sleep supports learning and coping for horses. A recent study at the University of Helsinki indicates that short periods of REM sleep impair horses' perseverance and performance in demanding ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / New amplifier design promises less noise, more gain for quantum computers

The low-noise, high-gain properties needed for high-performance quantum computing can be realized in a microwave photonic circuit device called a Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA), RIKEN researchers have ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Renewable biological catalyst carries the potential to transform wastewater into phosphorus resource

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and managing its availability is critical for growing crops to maintain the global food supply. In an effort to move toward a more sustainable bioeconomy, researchers from the ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Plasma rotation simulations could help fusion reactors survive decades of use

Scientists have long seen a puzzling pattern in tokamaks, the doughnut-shaped machines that could one day reliably generate electricity from fusing atoms. When plasma particles escape the core of the magnetic fields that ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Climbing behaviors of tree-dwelling mammals unlock insights on early primate evolution

Researchers have shed new light on the features that enable tree-dwelling mammals to move effectively through their environments, providing insights into the evolution of the distinct upright postures seen in primates. The ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Specially engineered crystal reveals magnetism with quantum potential

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, working with international partners, have uncovered surprising behavior in a specially engineered crystal. Composed of tantalum, tungsten and selenium—elements ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Satellite imagery and AI reveal development needs hidden by national data

For years, Iceland, Switzerland, and Norway have ranked near the top of the United Nations' annual index of countries based on indicators of well-being and quality of life. Countries with more poverty and less access to health ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Beyond 'survival' of fittest: Evolution works in teams

Survival of the fittest. Nature red in tooth and claw. The common view of natural selection is based solely on the individual: A trait allows an organism to out-compete its rivals and is thus passed down to its offspring. ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Tropical forests generate rainfall worth billions, study finds

Tropical forests help to generate vast amounts of rainfall each year, adding weight to arguments for protecting them as water and climate pressures increase, say researchers. A new study led by the University of Leeds has ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Northern Europe's radiator: Volcanic eruptions in the past may have pushed ocean currents toward collapse

New research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that volcanic eruptions during the Ice Age may have triggered sudden climate change by disrupting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), causing temperatures ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Climate change widened Valencia's 2024 extreme rain footprint by 55%, study finds

Human-driven climate change intensified rainfall that triggered Spain's deadliest natural disaster in a generation when flash floods hit the Valencia region in 2024, a new study showed on Tuesday.

Feb 17, 2026 in Earth