Phys.org news

Phys.org / Shock waves show how baby stars' cradles get their radial shape in 3D simulations

The universe is full of fascinating structures, and some of the most striking take shape inside the giant clouds where stars are born. There, streams of gas appear to converge from all directions toward a dense central hub, ...

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / Think DEET keeps mosquitoes away? They may be learning to love it

Every summer, millions of people spray themselves with DEET to keep mosquitoes away. But new research suggests mosquitoes may be able to learn to associate the repellent with food—and even become attracted to it.

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / How do you know a bowhead whale is feeding? It's all in the way it moves, shows study

For years, scientists studying bowhead whales have relied on a simple idea: if a whale makes a long, square or U-shaped dive, it's feeding time. A new study demonstrates that assumption may not hold water.

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / AI can mass-produce finance research papers indistinguishable from human work, reports study

Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) tools are capable of mass-producing academic finance papers that are nearly indistinguishable from human-authored research, according to a new study published ...

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / Human-linked foraging reshapes dolphin social networks in Florida over decades

Wild dolphins are known for their complex social lives, but new research shows those social networks can be influenced by human activity.

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / MIZ-ing in action: How much of Antarctic sea ice is affected by waves?

Using old satellite radar techniques, scientists have developed a new way of measuring the true extent of an understudied and crucial region of the Antarctic sea-ice system for the first time. The Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) ...

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / Deep beneath Utah, rare mantle earthquakes reshape seismic hazard questions

Nearly 50 years ago, a puzzling earthquake beneath northern Utah jolted scientists' understanding of how Earth works. Now, research from the University of Utah confirms that the mysterious event was real, and part of a rare ...

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / Global food shock model reveals self-sufficiency alone may not prevent crises

Global food systems are fragile. Recent shocks such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have raised prices and exacerbated food insecurity. Governments are increasingly trying to shield ...

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / Electrical 'knob' can switch light on, off and tune intensity at the nanoscale

Physicists from Emory University have led work to develop a microscopic, nonlinear light source that can be switched on, off or tuned to a particular intensity by an electrical "knob." The paper is published in the journal ...

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching, research reveals

Italians are famous for speaking with their hands. But a new international study suggests that when it comes to teaching children, adults everywhere instinctively become more expressive with their gestures—even in cultures ...

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / 'Diversifying' social feeds can cut exposure to toxic content and preserve enjoyment

A new study from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago offers underlying evidence that the engagement-based algorithms used by major social media platforms amplify intergroup, moralized, emotional (IME) and ...

May 28, 2026
Phys.org / Improved embryo freezing technique could preserve endangered species

The current practice of freezing embryos—used to assist reproduction in humans or animals or to conserve endangered species—routinely causes ice to form within the cells, ripping through cell membranes, changing the way proteins ...

May 28, 2026