Phys.org news

Phys.org / Low-level cloud loss amplifies global warming, simulations suggest

Low-level clouds over Earth's oceans play a prominent role in keeping our planet cool by reflecting sunlight away from the surface. But their response to climate change has been hard to model. Now, researchers at Caltech ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / Seven possible quasar lenses emerge from AI scan of 800,000 DESI objects

Quasars, distant cores of galaxies powered by supermassive black holes, are among the most luminous objects in the universe. While not uncommon, their brightness can make it difficult to accurately measure the galaxies they ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / New quantum chip architecture could use built-in vibrations to link distant qubits

A new concept from Warwick researchers could help solve one of the biggest challenges to building large-scale quantum computers: enabling communication between vast numbers of quantum bits (qubits) over long distances across ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists pinpoint where cells first begin copying DNA

Researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) and collaborators have uncovered one of the earliest steps in DNA replication: the moment a cell first opens its DNA to begin making a copy of its genome. The findings, ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / Mercury reveals short-lived radiation belts during its swing farther from the sun

Mercury was long considered the exception to the rule that magnetic planets have radiation belts similar to Earth's Van Allen belts, but a new study by University of Michigan Engineering and the University of California, ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / Molecular switch that activates cell growth signaling may offer more precise route for anticancer therapy

Cells carry their own growth switches. When enough nutrients—amino acids in particular—are available, cells flip this switch on and begin to grow. Researchers at KAIST and Yonsei University have uncovered the molecular mechanism ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / When polymers meet primitive membranes: How molecular cooperation may have helped life begin

A new study suggests that simple molecules on early Earth may have worked together to create more stable, cell-like structures, offering fresh clues about one of science's biggest questions: how life began. Led by Dr. Moran ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / California wildfire damage risk map uses factors most closely linked to severe property losses

By analyzing 100,000 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection inspection records from 2013 to 2024, researchers at the University of California, Irvine have identified the key environmental and human factors ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / Membrane nanostructures reshape in water, revealing route to better ion transport

Next-generation energy devices like fuel cells and water electrolyzers depend on ion-exchange membranes that allow only water and certain ions to pass through.

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / Long-term study finds widespread lithium in drinking water across communities in the western U.S.

Lithium in drinking water is a widespread and persistent source of human exposure across Tribal communities in the Western United States, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. ...

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / Purple corn offers a stable natural alternative to artificial food dyes

University of Missouri researchers are turning a unique variety of corn into an effective natural alternative to artificial food dyes.

Jul 27, 2026
Phys.org / Sharks, spines and speed: The hidden architecture behind different swimming styles revealed

"Shark Week," which kicks off this week, has captivated audiences for decades with stories of these powerful ocean predators. But the secret behind their extraordinary swimming abilities lies far deeper than their impressive ...

Jul 27, 2026