Phys.org news

Phys.org / First direct nanomagnet measurement finds switching attempts far slower than long-assumed

A compass always points north—or does it? Magnets normally maintain a stable direction of magnetization, pointing from south to north (S→N). However, this direction can change under strong magnetic fields or heat. For example, ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Wildfire-driven deforestation rates in California among highest in world

California has one of the highest rates of wildfire-driven deforestation in the world, and the trend has accelerated over the past three decades, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / How a faster protein-screening tool could strengthen US rare-earth supply chains

To ensure a robust domestic supply chain in the U.S., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists are using bacterial proteins to separate the rare-earth elements that are ubiquitous in magnets, batteries, and ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Cosmetics from waste? Microbial discovery unlocks greener route to high-value chemical products

Researchers at University of Toronto's Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry have made a key discovery about how certain bacterial strains produce a set of economically valuable chemicals—opening the door ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Turning four into two: How duplicated genomes become diploid again

Genome duplication probably gave biodiversity a decisive evolutionary boost. A Chinese-German research team led by Axel Meyer from the University of Konstanz has now investigated the early phases of the process known as rediploidization. ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / DNA's physical form helps direct gyrase activity and could reshape antibiotic design

New analytical methods developed at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions have increased our understanding of how bacteria manage DNA. The methods have enabled researchers to uncover how the sequence, ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Chalk-stream salmon could become an official sub-species

Chalk-stream salmon should be officially classified as a sub-species, new research suggests. Scientists from the University of Exeter and INRAe (France) carried out detailed genetic testing of salmon from 42 rivers in England, ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Geoengineering could protect Amazon rainforest from climate change

Geoengineering could protect the Amazon rainforest from climate change, new research shows. Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) aims to artificially cool Earth by increasing the reflection of incoming solar radiation, thereby ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / What's in a name? Study finds two dahlia-damaging viruses are variants of same species

For decades, two different viruses were believed to be responsible for a common, untreatable disease in dahlias, a colorful, high-value flower grown worldwide. Virologists at Washington State University have now learned that ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Sun simulations reveal how cool prominences survive in million-degree corona

At more than one million degrees, the sun's atmosphere—the corona—is incredibly hot; but not everywhere. Time and again, huge structures of significantly cooler solar plasma—about 10,000 degrees—appear within the corona. ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Discovery of new polymer class provides compostable alternative to conventional thermoplastics

Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have discovered a new class of polymers as part of the work carried out within the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1357 Microplastics. These polymers are characterized by biodegradable ...

Apr 22, 2026
Phys.org / Seeing is believing: Smart probes reveal proteins inside living cells with unprecedented clarity

Fluorescent probes have transformed modern biology by allowing researchers to tag and visualize individual molecules in living cells, tissues, and animals. Using these tools, researchers can watch viruses infect cells in ...

Apr 22, 2026