Phys.org news

Phys.org / Trade-offs between commercial and public satellite data in water mapping accuracy revealed

A new study finds that commercial satellite imagery data often outperforms public data sets when identifying surface water, but that public data sets may be better at detecting water hidden by forest cover. Satellite imagery ...

Mar 27, 2026
Phys.org / Unlocking the cell's 'gatekeeper': Researchers discover critical RNA quality-control factor, LENG8

How do cells ensure that the "blueprints" of genetic information-RNA are accurate and intact before they are exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm for protein production? A study led by Professor Yongsheng Shi's team ...

Mar 27, 2026
Phys.org / Unraveling active magma by drilling in the heart of volcanoes

Although volcanic eruptions are spectacular natural events that occur around the world every day, most volcanoes spend the majority of their time not erupting. To accurately forecast volcanic activity, it's important to characterize ...

Mar 27, 2026
Phys.org / New framework suggests dark energy could be evolving—and may be linked to the Hubble tension

A team of cosmologists in China has introduced a mathematical framework that investigates two of the deepest mysteries in cosmology at the same time. Publishing their research in The Astrophysical Journal, Yun Chen and colleagues ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Novel measurement confirms a 50-year-old prediction: Dark points are faster than light

A research group from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology reports in Nature an unprecedented achievement in electron microscopy: the direct measurement of "dark points" within light waves. By doing so, the researchers ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Earth's magnetic field creates a previously undetected pocket of protection from radiation on the moon

High-energy particles called galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) bombard unprotected objects in space, often causing damage. Earth, however, is protected by its magnetic field, which creates a protective shell around the planet that ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum experiment shows events may have no fixed order

For the first time, a team of physicists in Austria has carried out an experiment that appears to verify the principle of indefinite causal order: an idea that suggests that timelines of events can exist in multiple orders ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Human sperm may get lost in space

Having a baby in space may require a bit more direction, with new Adelaide University research revealing the navigational abilities of sperm are negatively impacted by a lack of gravity. Researchers at the University's Robinson ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Hubble detects first-ever spin reversal of tiny comet

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have found evidence that the spinning of a small comet slowed and then reversed its direction of rotation, offering a dramatic example of how volatile activity can affect the ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Dual-rail superconducting qubits generate high-fidelity logical entanglement, study finds

Quantum computers, systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, could outperform classical computers on some advanced tasks. These systems rely on qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information, ...

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Nitrile and latex gloves may cause overestimation of microplastics in the lab

Nitrile and latex gloves that scientists wear while they are measuring microplastics may lead to a potential overestimation of the tiny pollutants, according to a University of Michigan study, published in Analytical Methods.

Mar 26, 2026
Phys.org / Giant virus DNA may help polar algae survive harsh environments

In the game of survival, you can't always go it alone. Tiny algae living in the harsh conditions of the world's polar oceans appear to be better able to withstand the cold, high salinity, and extreme UV radiation, thanks ...

Mar 26, 2026