Phys.org news

Phys.org / Heating mica to 200°C reveals friction independent of sliding speed

Through joint research with the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Tokyo, NIMS for the first time experimentally demonstrated friction completely independent of sliding velocity—an ideal that had never been realized—by ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Australia's ancient rainfall patterns more complex than previously believed

"Sediment and fossil records are a major pillar of our understanding of how the climate works—but climate scientists have gotten something wrong about Australia's ice age," says Dr. Alex F. Wall, lead author of a new research ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / New simulations link unusual particle diffusion to yielding in soft jammed matter

Soft materials such as colloidal suspensions, emulsions, foams and gels often display complex and unusual behaviors compared with ordinary solids or liquids. From a mechanical point of view, for instance, they can resist ...

Sep 16, 2026
Phys.org / Indigenous Australian population was much larger than previously thought and decimated after First Fleet's arrival

Australia had a much larger Indigenous population before the arrival of Europeans than previously thought, according to new research. The research also demonstrates much larger population losses resulting from colonization ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Wild dogs make the longest recorded journey of any terrestrial mammal in Africa

African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) travel incredibly long distances to search for a mate and new places to breed. They typically embark on these mammoth treks as young adults and often face numerous hazards along the way. ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Biophysical model suggests how cells optimize information gathering without using too much energy

In both biological and engineered systems, cells and sensors must make sense of noisy, changing signals to function. However, collecting and using this information consumes valuable energy. A new study, published in Physical ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / New species of 240-million-year-old prehistoric animal could reshape dinosaur origins timeline

A new prehistoric animal species from Tanzania dating to around 240 million years ago, during the Triassic period, has been described by an international team of researchers. Led by the University of Bristol, the new species, ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / History is being rewritten at an archaeological site in Morocco. What the discovery of an ancient wall tells us

In the hills of northwestern Morocco, overlooking the river that gives the site its name, research at Oued Beht is bringing to light a previously unknown chapter of the region's past. The discovery of a substantial built ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / A famous galaxy's black hole has been hiding its most violent behavior

Astronomers have found that a nearby galaxy's black hole is blasting out a far more powerful and hidden gas outflow than previously realized. Studying NGC 1068, a well-known galaxy with an actively feeding black hole at its ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / For many group-living females, breeding and raising young are shared endeavors

Some female animals living in groups raise offspring that are not their own, sometimes without reproducing themselves. While the behavior of cooperatively breeding species is well documented, some aspects remain poorly understood.

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Plasma and electricity convert CO₂ into methanol, butane and other useful chemicals

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) can be harmful to the environment in large amounts but can be used in the production of fuels and other useful chemicals. Doing so isn't easy, though. Now, Yale researchers have developed a new way to ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient DNA traces medieval migration from Sweden to Finland

A new study led by the University of Turku provides new insights into the population history of Finland during the Late Iron Age and the Middle Ages. The researchers analyzed the genomes of people who lived in southwestern ...

Sep 15, 2026