Phys.org news

Phys.org / A fossil feather preserved inside dinosaur poop could help explain why birds survived the mass extinction

About 66 million years ago, a dinosaur—maybe a T. rex or a Nanotyrannus—ate a bird. The record of that meal, in the form of fossilized poop, has survived to today, preserving the best example of a feather ever found from ...

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Fossil flowers of ancient lianas preserved in amber reveal the evolution of tropical rainforests

Tiny flowers trapped in amber around 15 million years ago are offering scientists a rare glimpse into the plant life of a tropical rainforest in what is now Southeast China. Researchers have studied two exceptionally well-preserved ...

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Global study reveals hidden nutritional value of shellfish and other aquatic invertebrates

The nutritional value of aquatic invertebrates such as oysters, mussels and crabs has been significantly overlooked, according to a new study led by researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). ...

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Gondwana really was a supercontinent—and it may have helped kickstart life on Earth

Some 550 million years ago, Earth looked very different than it does today. The Southern Hemisphere was dominated by an enormous single continent known as Gondwana.

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Unaccounted climate feedback loops may amplify warming by 20–30% this century, but cutting emissions will reduce risks

New research shows that warming-induced emissions—greenhouse gas emissions from natural sources driven by rising temperatures—could amplify global warming by approximately 20%–30% and add an estimated 0.2°C–0.4°C of warming ...

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / 'Peculiar' new species of Jurassic squid found in Wyoming

A "peculiar" new species of Jurassic squid-like animal has been unearthed in Wyoming, U.S., following the discovery of two exceptionally rare fossils dating to around 160 million years ago.

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists visualize proteins' hidden water architecture that may help define biological function

For decades, scientists have understood proteins primarily through two defining features: their amino acid sequence and their three-dimensional structure. This framework has driven major advances in biology, biotechnology ...

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Rare bird fossils from Bavaria reveal new species, including an eagle

The Hammerschmiede clay pit near Pforzen in the eastern Allgäu is famous for its wealth of finds: Besides fossils of two early anthropoid apes, the remains of numerous vertebrate species have been uncovered in 11.6-million-year-old ...

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Future catastrophic weather could be 'far worse' than history suggests

Historical records of the deadliest storms and heat waves may be a poor indicator of the scale and impact future weather disasters could have, scientists at King's College London warn.

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / A fake spider at the tip of this snake's tail helps it lure birds: Scientists get their first look inside it

Lots of animals use mimicry to survive. Some copy the appearance of threatening predators, and others have evolved to resemble plants or rocks so they can blend into the background and avoid being attacked. But a viper from ...

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Chinese cave traces Denisovan hunting and adaptation across 120,000 years

An ancient cave in southwestern China has revealed new evidence about how Denisovans—an ancient human relative—lived, survived and adapted over more than 100,000 years.

Sep 10, 2026
Phys.org / Psychologist wins Ig Nobel for proving rich drivers are the worst

Paul K. Piff, UC Irvine associate professor of psychology, has officially been recognized for what millions of frustrated commuters have long suspected: The fancier the car, the worse the driver.

Sep 10, 2026