Phys.org news

Phys.org / Fire that scorched African mountain range was unprecedented in the last 12,000 years, research shows

In 2012, a wildfire ripped through 42 square kilometers of alpine moorland in Africa's Rwenzori Mountains, a range of glaciated peaks on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The blaze, which occurred ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / The hidden force of growth: Dividing cell colonies drive phase separation in passing particles

In physics, the spontaneous de-mixing of two substances is known as phase separation. It is an important mechanism in nature to create structure and patterns and typically requires some form of attraction between the constituents. ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Why heavier rain can mean less usable water as global warming intensifies

A Dartmouth study shows that annual rainfall in much of the world has consolidated over the past four decades into heavier storms with longer dry periods in between.

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / A hidden lubricant in creeping faults? Uncovering the mysteries of aseismic slip

Geological faults hold many secrets that may help us answer important questions about the nature of our planet and what really happens deep underground. One of the biggest mysteries lies within the Atotsugawa Fault System ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / AI tool boosts imperfect antibiotic candidates, with 85% working in lab tests

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed ApexGO, a novel, AI-powered method for turning promising but imperfect antibiotic candidates into more potent ones. Unlike many existing AI approaches to antibiotic ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny forces, big effects: How particle interactions control the flow of soft materials

Sitting in a restaurant, you reach for the ketchup bottle, eyeing the basket of fries in front of you. You give the bottle a shake, then a tap. For a moment, nothing happens—the ketchup clings stubbornly to the glass. Then, ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Amazon's carbon clock is speeding up, and violent storms may be only part of why

Tropical forests store more than 60% of the world's vegetation biomass and are among the most important ecosystems for regulating the global carbon cycle and climate. However, their regulatory role is greatly influenced by ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Precision DNA editing targets root cause of severe childhood epilepsy in preclinical study

Gene editing can repair a DNA error in mice that causes Dravet syndrome, a rare, incurable, and potentially deadly form of childhood epilepsy. After the edit, the mice have far fewer seizures and live much longer. As published ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Earth system AI closes data gaps to shows how extreme weather emerges

The impacts were severe: Within a very short time, tropical storm Doksuri intensified into a super typhoon in July 2023. Exceptionally strong winds tore roofs from houses along the coasts of China and the Philippines, trees ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Methane fingerprints sharpen global emissions map, pointing to China, India and Central Africa

Atmospheric methane levels have surged to record highs in recent years and are projected to increase by as much as 13% by 2030, according to a report from the Climate & Clean Air Coalition. As scientists work to better understand ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / A marine-inspired sunscreen ingredient made by E. coli

How do fish survive relentless sunlight in the open waters without getting burned? They make their own natural sunscreen—and now, humans could be one step closer to using it too.

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Small seabirds rely on crosswinds to navigate the open ocean

Storm petrels are among the smallest and most mysterious seabirds. Until recently, the use of biologgers to track their movements was impossible. A new study published in Biology Letters reveals that they routinely travel ...

May 13, 2026