Phys.org news

Phys.org / NASA's Perseverance rover reads record of ancient Mars impacts

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has uncovered evidence that a 245-foot-thick (75-meter-thick) stack of ancient rock on the rim of Jezero Crater was built by repeated asteroid impacts. Referred to as the "Broom Point member" ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Bacteria form 'herds' to survive predators, offering fresh insight into Earth's carbon cycle

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have discovered that tiny photosynthetic bacteria band together into protective "herds" when attacked by predators—a survival strategy that could also influence how carbon is ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / New method scales up twist-engineered oxide materials for future electronics

Researchers have shown it is possible to expand the field of twistronics—literally. They have demonstrated a technique that allows them to fabricate oxide twistronic materials at much larger scales while also controlling ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / New study pinpoints Europe's most critical wetlands for climate action

Wetlands have shaped human life in Europe since ancient times. These ecosystems provided essential resources and safe havens for plants and animals, and in many regions they also held spiritual and ritual significance. For ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / When disaster strikes, people often flee to places that feel familiar

When the Marshall Fire tore through suburban Colorado in late 2021, residents had only hours to decide where to go. Some fled to nearby towns. Others stayed farther away for weeks or months. Now, a recent study published ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / New species of monkey with unusual orange lips discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Scientists have described a new species of colobus monkey in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), report John Hart at Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation and colleagues in PLOS One. The first hint that a ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / The secret to hydrogen's quantum behavior lies in symmetry

As interest in clean hydrogen power grows, so does the need for safe storage and transportation materials. One such material, vanadium, is a leading candidate because it readily absorbs hydrogen and allows it to move through ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Healthier, more sustainable diets could reshape global agriculture: New study shows by how much

There is a clear need to shift toward healthier and more sustainable food systems. According to the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Report, global adoption of a flexitarian Planetary Health Diet could prevent around 15 million ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Unhoused people and wildlife are increasingly coming into contact. Here's what can be done to protect them

As homelessness increases around the world, more unhoused people are turning to parks and other urban green spaces to seek shelter. However, these places are also home to animals that live in and around urban areas.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Adolescent social media restrictions may reduce some harms while shifting others, warn experts

Amrit Kaur Purba and colleagues argue that social media restrictions operate within a wider system of adolescents, families, schools, governments and commercial actors—and therefore should be treated as complex systems interventions ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Large precolonial villages in the Brazilian Cerrado practiced maize-based polyculture, evidence reveals

For decades, researchers have debated the subsistence strategies of precolonial societies in the Brazilian Cerrado (tropical savanna): Were they hunter-gatherers or intensive maize farmers, and in either case, how did they ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Does teleworking reduce carbon emissions? It depends on how you do it

Teleworking—including working from home, coworking or working from other third places—can reduce carbon emissions by eliminating commutes. But if you're not careful, this benefit will be offset by the carbon cost of work-related ...

Jul 15, 2026