Phys.org news

Phys.org / Racetrack-shaped lasers developed for bright, stable frequency combs

A new, miniature laser source developed by applied physicists in the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Technical University of Vienna (TU Wien) could soon pack the power of ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / NASA probe data suggests a more complex sun's magnetic engine

A Southwest Research Institute-led study found that protons and heavy ions react differently to solar magnetic reconnection events, revealing a more complex magnetic engine powering the solar wind. Magnetic reconnection converts ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Engineers introduce first synthetic charged domain wall in 2D material

In a first for the field, materials scientists from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have interfaced two materials to artificially generate a highly conductive ferroelectric ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Can planes evacuate in 90 seconds? New simulations show the safest cabin layout

In case of an emergency, the Federal Aviation Administration requires aircraft to be able to evacuate within 90 seconds. However, as the median age of the global population increases, the growing number of elderly airline ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Great hammerheads maintain peak hunting across wide temperature swings, biologging data suggest

Most predators slow down when ocean temperatures shift. Great hammerhead sharks don't—not significantly anyway. These ocean predators are masters of the "thermal hustle," maintaining peak hunting performance across a surprisingly ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Physicist recreates neutron star reaction, reveals how explosive stars forge elements

A Mississippi State physicist has produced a direct laboratory measurement of a key nuclear reaction believed to occur during explosive bursts on neutron stars. These bursts forge heavier elements—the building blocks of planets ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists capture atoms in motion, unlocking next-generation memory technology

Monash University researchers have captured the exact atomic movements that write data to next-generation memory devices, which could pave the way for smaller, faster and more energy-efficient electronics. Published in Nature ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / NASA begins the countdown for humanity's first launch to the moon in 53 years

NASA began the countdown Monday for humanity's first launch to the moon in 53 years.

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change may produce 'fast-food' phytoplankton

We are what we eat. And in the ocean, most life-forms source their food from phytoplankton. These microscopic, plant-like algae are the primary food source for krill, sea snails, some small fish, and jellyfish, which in turn ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Webb reveals hidden details of W51 star formation

A team of University of Florida researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to capture photos of a star-forming region known as W51 with never-before-seen clarity and resolution. The long wavelengths of JWST's infrared ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Chiral metasurfaces guide twisted light into free space

Light can carry angular momentum in two distinct ways. One comes from polarization, which describes how the electric field rotates. The other comes from the shape of the wavefront itself, which can twist like a corkscrew ...

Mar 31, 2026
Phys.org / Impacts from meteors may have helped start life on Earth by creating hydrothermal vents

Meteor impacts may have helped spark life on Earth, creating hot, chemical-rich environments where the first living cells could take shape, according to research integrated by a recent Rutgers University graduate. Shea Cinquemani, ...

Mar 31, 2026