Phys.org news

Phys.org / Late Roman decrees uncover military system behind amphitheater animal spectacles

A study on Roman law by the Carlos III University of Madrid analyzes the regulations and complex imperial logistics governing the capture, transport and safety of animals used in spectacles in the Roman Empire—which were ...

Sep 5, 2026
Phys.org / Views from a physician and veterinarian: How to improve barriers to pet care when owners are hospitalized

The human-animal bond is often so strong that pet owners may delay or forgo medical treatment or leave a health care facility against medical advice if they have no one to care for their pet at home. A perspective paper published ...

Sep 5, 2026
Phys.org / Tree species diversity protects forests from climate extremes, study finds

New research has found that tree species diversity can play a crucial role in protecting forests from the growing threat of extreme climate events. The study analyzed data from 88,116 separate forest plots across the United ...

Sep 5, 2026
Phys.org / Betelgeuse's atmosphere is becoming spotty and asymmetric—and a nearby companion could be shaping the pattern

For the first time since its dramatic dimming in 2020, a team of astronomers has observed the inner atmosphere of Betelgeuse using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). Led by Bill Dent at the University of Manchester, ...

Sep 4, 2026
Phys.org / Critically endangered pygmy raccoons observed making their own paper toys

Some of the most intriguing scientific breakthroughs happen when researchers aren't explicitly looking for them. Take, for example, the pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus), a critically endangered species that lives only on ...

Sep 4, 2026
Phys.org / Particle shape and size predict asteroid strength, revealing Bennu's surface is 50 times weaker than ground coffee

In a new Nature Communications study, researchers developed a universal scaling framework for the strength of granular asteroids, showing that their tensile strength can be predicted from the size and shape of their constituent ...

Sep 4, 2026
Phys.org / Not a cheetah: Ancient DNA reveals the surprising Arctic life of extinct North American cat

A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has overturned decades of assumptions about Miracinonyx trumani, the extinct predator popularly known as the American cheetah. By analyzing nuclear ...

Sep 4, 2026
Phys.org / AI helps reveal the immersive sensory experiences of ancient Etruscan tombs

The Etruscan painted tombs in Tarquinia, Italy, date to the first millennium BCE and are known for their vivid scenes of music, feasting, processions and the afterlife. While these tombs have been extensively studied, archaeologists ...

Sep 4, 2026
Phys.org / Iron Age Botswana site sourced copper across southern Africa—but tin from just one place

Around 700 years ago, people living on hilltop settlements on the edge of the Kalahari wore beads, bangles and clips made from metal traded across the southern half of the African continent.

Sep 4, 2026
Phys.org / Students with lower grades earn degrees more often when they belong to an academic major's majority group

Despite efforts to encourage broader participation, women earn about 25% of undergraduate engineering degrees and 18% of undergraduate computer science degrees—and men remain a small minority among people earning nursing ...

Sep 4, 2026
Phys.org / A new type of LED light could bring significant efficiency gains

Researchers at Lund University have developed a new type of light-emitting diode based on thin, branched nanowires that could offer significantly higher efficiency and lower production costs than current technology. By controlling ...

Sep 4, 2026
Phys.org / Periodical cicadas may be doomed to extinction

Every 13 or 17 years, swarms of cicadas emerge from the ground, their black bodies, orange-tinged wings and ruby-red eyes enveloping trees and forests. It is a biological marvel unique in the insect world, and when it happens, ...

Sep 4, 2026