Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ancient cave lion genomes reveal a distinct lineage

A new study on multiple genomes from the extinct cave lion has discovered that it represented a highly distinct evolutionary lineage, which separated from modern lions more than a million years ago. The results also show ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Integrating citizen science with experimental data uncovers how switchgrass adapts flowering by region

In its native habitat, switchgrass flowered earlier when growing farther north. In experiments with diverse genetic samples, it flowered earlier in the south.

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Open-source software unlocks rapid DNA structure generation and analysis in one workflow

Computational chemists at the University of Amsterdam's Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences have developed a comprehensive software suite to create accurate models of DNA in biomolecular assemblies. Called MDNA, ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Printed manga may give the brain a storytelling advantage

A new study by researchers at the University of Tokyo explores whether reading manga on paper or on a tablet changes how the brain understands and remembers stories. Participants first read the opening half of a two-part ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / SWOT satellite gets clearer ocean data after fix for hidden underwater wave interference

Florida State University research published in Science Advances demonstrates a new framework for predicting the motion of kilometer-scale underwater waves that complicate satellite readings of the ocean.

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Detailed molecular picture of tooth enamel reveals adaptations to diet

From chewing to chomping to grinding, teeth suffer from a lifetime of repeated mechanical stress. It makes sense, then, that enamel is one of the hardest natural materials.

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Out-of-plane ice bridges reveal new way to suppress frost spreading

A research team led by Professor Nenad Miljkovic in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has published a breakthrough study in Nature Physics. The work reports the first experimental ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Whiskey chemistry propels microscopic machines through liquid

Whisky-inspired chemicals could help power a new generation of microscopic machines, according to researchers who have discovered a way to make tiny particles "swim" through liquid using compounds linked to the production ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Armed with AI, study identifies prey from predator crunching sounds

Interactions between hard-shelled marine mollusks such as clams and snails and their predators play a critical but largely unseen role in shaping coastal ecosystems. These organisms help stabilize shorelines, filter water ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Abortion restrictions associated with lower female medical school applicant numbers

States with restrictive abortion policies saw slower growth in the proportion of female medical school applicants following the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, according to a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Traditional, patriarchal Japanese terms for husband and wife may now be perceived as neutral

A new study suggests that, for modern Japanese speakers, two traditional, patriarchal words for "husband" ("shujin," literally meaning "master") and "wife" ("kanai," "inside-the-house") may be losing their original meanings, ...

Jun 3, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change may shift hailstorms toward Earth's poles—new study

Everyone has a storm story—whether it's that time you just escaped a downpour, or the hailstorm that wrote off your car. Even though hailstorms are relatively rare, they cause significant damage. Two new studies shed light ...

Jun 3, 2026