Phys.org news

Phys.org / From strays to territory bosses: Epigenetics makes cheetahs adaptable

The findings of a new study led by the Leibniz-IZW on Namibian free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) demonstrate that epigenetic mechanisms might play an important role in how animals develop different phenotypes ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / AI governance model inspired by Pope Leo XIV aims to put ethics first

Researchers at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) and the University of Eastern Finland have developed a new model of artificial intelligence governance inspired by the teachings of Pope Leo XIV as set out ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / Deep biosphere has endured mountain-building and erosion over hundreds of millions of years

A new study reveals that microbial life deep within Earth has persisted and repeatedly flourished through hundreds of millions of years of mountain-building and erosion. By analyzing minerals, fluids and gases from a 2.3-kilometer-deep ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / Bumpy battery surfaces can masquerade as nanoscale ion pathways, misleading material design

A signal that appears to show ions moving inside a battery may, in fact, be an illusion caused by an uneven surface. A KAIST research team has identified the origin of this type of artifact, which can lead researchers to ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / How climate change may amplify the impact of earthquakes in the Arctic

Permafrost refers to permanently frozen ground. The rock is held together by ice, much like cement binds concrete. However, when the ice thaws, the ground becomes weak and unstable. During an earthquake, this can trigger ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / Reversible electric control unlocks persistent chiral phonon states

Atoms in a material are rarely still. They jiggle back and forth in collective lattice vibrations known as phonons. Their motion can also carry a rotational element: In 2023, scientists at PSI experimentally proved the existence ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / New model measures economic risks solar storms pose to US power grid

In 1967, a solar storm nearly triggered World War III by jamming early-warning radar systems in the United States, causing U.S. leaders to think the Soviet Union was responsible. Though society averted catastrophe thanks ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / Slender crystal's blue-to-yellow glow could make invisible forces visible

Applying pressure to luminescent organic crystals usually brings molecules closer together and weakens their fluorescence. Materials that instead brighten and undergo a large color change are rare, and clear design principles ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / Why 'you're smart' can backfire: Young children may cheat more after ability praise

Parents and teachers might think telling kids "they're smart" is a helpful way to build self-confidence and support positive development.

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / Reconstructed ancient protein maps how bacterial enzymes evolved distinct functions

How do related proteins develop different functions? This is the question investigated by a research team involving Kiel University, DESY and the Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB). Led by Holger Sondermann, professor ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient charcoal reveals evidence of wildfires near the South Pole

A journey back in time to the Late Cretaceous: A swampy rainforest with conifers and tree ferns stretches as far as the eye can see, dinosaurs roam through the misty wetlands, and the climate is mild and warm. The average ...

Sep 7, 2026
Phys.org / Isle of Jura research casts new light on how rivers carve through landscapes

The waters of the remote Scottish island of Jura have long been famous for making whiskey. Now, the island's rivers have helped geologists learn more about how rivers erode rocks, providing new evidence that what streams ...

Sep 7, 2026