Phys.org news

Phys.org / Data-driven tool can find mineral biosignatures on other worlds

A technique for judging whether a common mineral formed through biological activity could aid the search for ancient life on Earth and Mars. Apatite is a ubiquitous phosphate mineral found in terrestrial and extraterrestrial ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / New mechanism shows how plants rapidly adapt to intense sunlight

Plants do not wait hours to respond to intense sunlight—they react within minutes. Researchers at Bielefeld University and the Australian National University have discovered a new signaling pathway that enables plants to ...

Jul 14, 2026
Dialog / How the built environment can help protect mental health in a changing climate

When people think about climate change, they often picture melting glaciers, stronger storms, rising temperatures, or prolonged droughts. These visible consequences dominate headlines and shape public discussions. Yet another ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Highly filled liquid epoxy for smaller, more reliable chip packaging

As computer chips become more powerful and compact, the materials that protect them must perform better than ever. In advanced chip packaging, liquid epoxy is widely used because it can flow into tiny spaces before curing ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Twisted ultrathin magnet retains magnetization after field changes, study finds

The properties of ultrathin magnets can be specifically altered by a slight twist between two atomic monolayers. This is the conclusion reached by an international research team led by TU Darmstadt in a study published in ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Statistical test helps judge the value of personalization

From precision medicine to personalized job training, customizing interventions for individuals is often assumed to produce better outcomes than a one-size-fits-all approach. But personalization also comes with costs: it ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Six years of drought reshape soil microbiomes in tallgrass prairie, study finds

A new study tracking soil microbial communities across six years of experimental drought in a tallgrass prairie finds that prolonged water stress diminishes biodiversity, pushing communities toward less predictable, harder-to-reverse ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Disturbance has a greater effect on giant kelp productivity than resource availability

Marine scientists at UC Santa Barbara have found that disturbances to giant kelp forests have a major influence on their net primary productivity (NPP)—an indicator of an ecosystem's health and its ability to support its ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum-gravitational mechanism could explain the universe's homogeneity

Our universe is known to be remarkably homogeneous and isotropic. This essentially means that matter is distributed evenly throughout the universe and that it looks almost the same in all directions.

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden fifth dimension could tune dark matter resonance, new theory proposes

The mysterious substance that binds galaxies together could naturally be "in tune" with a hidden fifth dimension, according to a new University of Sheffield theory aiming to shed light on one of science's biggest enigmas: ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / New 3D thermal cloak hides objects from heat in any direction

Researchers have designed and built the first 3D device that can make objects invisible to heat, an advance that could transform how we protect sensitive electronics, manage heat in microchips and shield equipment from thermal ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / The US just approved a giant space mirror to test 'sunlight on demand.' Low Earth orbit is getting weird

A giant mirror to create "sunlight on demand" was just approved by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), despite opposition from astronomers and the public, and real safety concerns.

Jul 13, 2026