Phys.org news

Phys.org / Climate change spurs weight gain in owl monkeys

Azara's owl monkeys, a small primate species found in South America, are heavier today than those that lived a quarter-century ago, and evidence suggests that rising temperatures might have driven the weight gain, according ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Genes without borders: Coral babies can travel vast distances across the Pacific Ocean

The offspring of a common coral branching species set up a new home up to 100 kilometers or more from their parents in one of the longest dispersal distances ever measured, according to new international research.

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Rising seawater heat may collapse coral oxygen flow before bleaching appears

Tropical coral reefs support the highest levels of biodiversity in the ocean. This vital ecosystem depends on reef-building corals, which form colonies of thousands of tiny coral animals that secrete calcium carbonate skeletons, ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Insects in the city: Flowers alone may not be enough to sustain them

What renders a city garden attractive to insects such as solitary bees, bumblebees and hoverflies? And how well do they pollinate plants in urban areas? A study by the Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny sea creature Porpita porpita may live adrift at sea for years longer than previously thought

A new study of the blue button (Porpita porpita), a small and elusive sea creature which lives on the surface of the ocean, has found that it may live for several years adrift at sea, much longer than previously estimated.

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / How city life changes bird song and why many species do not adapt

Urbanization is rapidly transforming natural habitats and poses growing challenges for wildlife. One lesser-known consequence is its potential impact on bird song, which plays a crucial role in communication, reproduction, ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Overturning a 200-year belief: New surface design enables two distinct wetting states on a single substrate

NIMS discovered a phenomenon in which droplets on a single solid surface exhibit both a "sticky" and "repellent" state simultaneously. Namely, the wetting behavior branches into two states. This is a discovery that overturns ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / New field evidence from Canada shows old wells can leave a hidden leakage footprint

Old oil and gas wells may continue to affect the environment long after they have stopped producing, with new field evidence showing that their leakage footprint can be broader and more persistent than surface methane measurements ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Lab fish cycles are hours out of sync with natural ones, researchers discover

When researchers moved medaka—a fish commonly used in experiments—out of the lab and into more natural conditions, their reproductive clock shifted by hours, suggesting that laboratory findings may not fully capture their ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / How face-building genes get ready early: Genome folding may prime crucial DNA switches

Early in development, a group of migrating cells called cranial neural crest cells go on to form many different parts of the face, including the nose, jaw, ears, and throat. To build these structures correctly, genes must ...

May 20, 2026
Phys.org / Rare seals hide in underwater bubble caves to escape tourists

The uninhabited islet of Formicula in Greece's Inner Ionian archipelago is a popular tourist draw for its clear waters, swimming spots, and marine diversity. A major attraction is the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world's ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Consistency check casts doubt on evolving dark energy

Cosmologists have long struggled to determine whether the universe's accelerating expansion is being driven by a simple cosmological constant, or whether dark energy's influence is evolving over time. In a new analysis published ...

May 19, 2026