Phys.org news

Phys.org / Laser draws made-to-order magnetic landscapes

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado, have for the first time succeeded in using existing laser technology to ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Molten metal nano-droplets reveal new hybrid state of matter where solids meet liquids

Researchers have discovered that not all atoms in a liquid are in motion and that some remain stationary regardless of the temperature, significantly impacting the solidification process, including the formation of an unusual ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Surprising nanoscopic heat traps found in diamonds

Diamond is famous in material science for being the best natural heat conductor on Earth—but new research reveals that, at the atomic scale, it can briefly trap heat in unexpected ways. The findings could influence how ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Male bonobos track females' reproductive cycle to maximize mating success

Male bonobos can decipher females' unreliable fertility signals, allowing them to focus their efforts on matings with the highest chance of conception, according to a study by Heungjin Ryu at Kyoto University, Japan, and ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Cooperative intermolecular interactions regulate supramolecular polymer assembly

Supramolecular chemistry involves the study of self-assembly of discrete molecules that are used to build large functional structures. Often, these molecules are allowed to self-assemble into one-dimensional polymeric structures ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Durable catalyst shields itself for affordable green hydrogen production

An international research team led by Professor Philip C.Y. Chow at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has unveiled a new catalyst that overcomes a major challenge in producing green hydrogen at scale. This innovation makes ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Connections between coral reefs boost their health

Coral reefs may seem like paradise, but they are being degraded by a range of global and local factors, including climate change, poor water quality, and overfishing. New research reveals that connections between reefs help ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Simplified lab process produces potent nerve-blocking molecules found in shellfish

Chemists have long been fascinated and frustrated by saxitoxin: a molecule that causes temporary paralysis by blocking the electrical signals that nerve cells (neurons) use to activate muscle, and which accumulates in shellfish ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Melatonin wakes up plants, stimulating growth and boosting stress tolerance

In an interesting turn of botanical events, University of Houston engineers report that while melatonin keeps us asleep, it wakes up plants, helping them grow.

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Viruses help drive carbon cycling in deep-sea ecosystems, study reveals

A research team led by Prof. Sun Chaomin from the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) has unveiled the crucial role of viruses in deep-sea carbon cycling and microbial community structure. Their ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Energy-efficient hydrogen: Plant waste and chromium-coated copper catalyst improve electrolysis process

Hydrogen fuel could be an important part of the clean energy revolution. But it faces some challenges. Most hydrogen today is made from natural gas using a process called steam methane reforming, which produces lots of carbon ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Observations link solar flare pulsations to repeated magnetic reconnection

A new study led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) links quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) in solar flares to dynamic oscillations in magnetic reconnection, a phenomenon that can drive space weather and affect technology ...

Dec 9, 2025 in Astronomy & Space