Phys.org news

Phys.org / More Canadian than the beaver? Scientists discover a western toad found only in Canada

The beaver and moose may be enduring symbols of Canadian wildlife, but neither is uniquely Canadian from a genetic perspective. But a team of researchers from the University of Ottawa has now discovered something rare: a ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Zero-waste plastic and color recycling: The end of colored plastic downgrading could be near

In the world of market competition, having the best and brightest package could send company sales into the millions. On the other hand, the amount of colored plastic waste increases, adding to the growing challenge of recycling ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Honeybee queens push pesticides to eggs to protect themselves over their offspring, research reveals

Worker bees are the first line of defense when it comes to removing contamination in honeybee colonies, but a queen has her ways, too. A honeybee queen facing chronic exposure to pesticides will take up that contamination ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Ecological factors, not social behavior, explain brain size in cephalopods

Octopuses, squid and cuttlefish may have evolved large brains because of the challenges posed by their environments rather than the demands of social life, according to a new study published in iScience today.

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / How giant tropical trees transport water 70 meters to stay as drought-resilient as smaller trees

The giant trees of tropical forests are important allies in the fight against climate change because of their ability to store carbon, yet they are still poorly understood by science. However, a study published in the journal ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Massive sturgeon once bred in Britain's rivers, boosting reintroduction hopes

Atlantic and European sturgeon once called Britain's rivers home and could do so again, following research using Natural History Museum specimens. These fish are among the biggest found in Europe and undertake epic migrations ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Spider venoms could stop deadly varroa mites killing honey bees

Spider venoms contain ingredients that could lead to a new treatment to protect honeybees from the deadly Varroa destructor mite, according to a study led by the University of the Sunshine Coast. Researchers identified components ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Nanozymes map nanoparticle routes inside live cells without genetic engineering

Nanoparticles are widely used in medicine to deliver drugs, genes or imaging agents to specific parts of the body. Once a nanoparticle reaches a cell, however, many things can happen—it can reach its target, be degraded, ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / The broader a fungus's diet, the better it kills insects and helps plants

Many fungi lead triple lives—acting as deadly insect pathogens, decomposers in the soil, and helpful partners living inside and transferring insect-derived nitrogen to plant roots. Scientists have long wondered what allows ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Quiet outings linked to more frequent dangerous wildlife encounters

The more people expand into previously natural areas, the more wildlife and humans step on each other's toes, leading to more interactions that may result in conflict. This includes national parks, where people flock to recuperate ...

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Last-minute launch problem delays satellite rescue mission for NASA

A rush rescue mission to save a NASA space telescope remains grounded, this time because of a last-minute launch problem.

Jul 2, 2026
Phys.org / Synchronized infrared lasers control molecular shape changes and expose hidden fingerprints

Researchers from the Molecular Physics and Physical Chemistry departments of the Fritz Haber Institute have shown how two highly synchronized infrared (IR) laser beams can control molecules as they switch between different ...

Jul 2, 2026