Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ultrafast X-rays allow researchers to 'watch' how molecules rearrange during a chemical reaction controlled by light

Since the 1980s, researchers have sought to use laser light to control chemical reactions relevant to photochemistry, catalysis and light-responsive materials. But this technique, known as coherent control, has a blind spot: ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Electron buildup at 2D interface reveals how Janus semiconductors form at room temperature

Researchers at Tohoku University have uncovered the long-standing mystery behind the synthesis of Janus two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, paving the way for more precise manufacturing of materials used in future electronics ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Fiber-optic cables detect silent whales off Svalbard by tracking pressure waves

A 100-year-old equation and a fiber-optic cable off the coast of Svalbard led researchers to discover they could detect swimming whales—even if they were completely silent. The discovery broadens the tools biologists could ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Drifting tuna gear creates risks for wildlife in protected marine areas

An international study co-authored by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researcher has found that drifting devices used by the global tuna fishing industry are entering marine protected areas around the world, creating potential ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Plasma approach keeps catalysts working for longer in hydrogen production

Scientists from the University of Manchester have shown how a plasma-based approach, using nonthermal plasma—an electrically energized gas often described as the fourth state of matter—can prevent catalyst deactivation in ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists design 'tunable' biomolecules to probe how sugars behave

Sugars are not just a source of energy—they also play a crucial role in how cells communicate, how proteins interact and how materials behave in medicine and industry. But studying these processes is challenging because sugar ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / How mitochondria build their protein factories could help explain energy‑linked disease

In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have mapped key steps in the assembly of the mitochondrial ribosome, offering new clues to how defects in this process can lead to disease.

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Piecing the puzzle of how proteins fit together: Simpler model outperforms leading methods

How the proteins in our bodies bind together to form protein complexes plays a critical role in numerous cell functions—staving off diseases, for instance, or transporting ions across cell membranes. A better understanding ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Fair Workweek laws improve work schedules without cutting pay or benefits, according to research

A study examining Fair Workweek laws across five major U.S. jurisdictions finds that labor regulations have made work schedules more predictable for service-sector workers, without triggering wage cuts or benefit reductions. ...

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Decades-long dataset shows which orcas are most at home in Puget Sound

Data spanning nearly half a century shows that endangered southern resident killer whales are spending less time in inland waters, whereas their larger cousins, Bigg's killer whales, are increasingly present in Puget Sound.

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Oysters used as living labs reveal unexpected stability in ocean virus populations

Oysters filter seawater for food. In the process, they concentrate a wide variety of microorganisms from their environment—including bacteria and viruses—into a tiny space.

Jun 24, 2026
Phys.org / Do hyenas eat livestock and rhinos? Behavioral biologists investigate a surprisingly charming population

For conservation and the management of human–wildlife conflicts, it is of great interest to know which species are eaten by carnivores. Scientists from the Ngorongoro Hyena Project at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ...

Jun 24, 2026