Phys.org news

Phys.org / Hidden magma oceans could shield rocky exoplanets from harmful radiation

Deep beneath the surface of distant exoplanets known as super-Earths, oceans of molten rock may be doing something extraordinary: powering magnetic fields strong enough to shield entire planets from dangerous cosmic radiation ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Tiny earthquakes reveal hidden faults under Northern California

By tracking swarms of very small earthquakes, seismologists are getting a new picture of the complex region where the San Andreas fault meets the Cascadia subduction zone, an area that could give rise to devastating major ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / New spectroscopic method reveals ion's complex nuclear structure

Different atoms and ions possess characteristic energy levels. Like a fingerprint, they are unique for each species. Among them, the atomic ion 173Yb+ has attracted growing interest because of its particularly rich energy ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Increased deciduous tree dominance reduces wildfire carbon losses in boreal forests, study shows

As climate change drives more frequent and severe wildfires across boreal forests in Alaska and northwestern Canada, scientists are asking a critical question: Will these ecosystems continue to store carbon or become a growing ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Frequency comb lasers enable clearer observation of black holes

Radio telescopes are instruments that capture faint radio signals from space and convert them into images of celestial bodies. To observe distant black holes clearly, multiple radio telescopes must capture cosmic signals ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Chemist proposes shared 'model proteins' to improve reproducibility in protein science

Protein scientists could improve reproducibility and coordination across the field by rallying around a small, shared set of "model proteins," according to a new Perspective by Connecticut College chemist Marc Zimmer.

Jan 15, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Comprehensive map reveals how E3 ligases organize protein cleanup in human cells

Maintaining cellular order is a major logistical challenge: Individual mammalian cells contain billions of protein molecules, which must be synthesized, deployed, and removed with precision. In the ubiquitin-proteasome system ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How cells stay healthy: New insights into a selective protein cleanup system

To stay healthy, our cells rely on a self-cleaning mechanism that removes defective or unnecessary components. This process, known as autophagy, has been linked not only to cellular maintenance but also to various diseases ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Ocean impacts nearly double economic cost of climate change, study finds

For the first time, a study by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego integrates climate-related damages to the ocean into the social cost of carbon—a measure of economic ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / How gender bias influences math education

Young children are more inclined to believe incorrect math information from men than accurate information from women, according to a Rutgers University–New Brunswick study published in the journal Developmental Science.

Jan 15, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Charging gold nanorods with light energy

Gold nanorods are promising photocatalysts that can use light energy to drive chemical reactions—such as converting CO₂ into usable fuels or producing hydrogen from water. In this process, the nanorods act like tiny antennas ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / The hidden risk of combined stressors for soils

Global change—a term that encompasses climate change and phenomena such as changes in land use or environmental pollution—is increasingly putting ecosystems around the world under pressure. Urban soils in particular are ...

Jan 15, 2026 in Earth