Phys.org news

Phys.org / Dense, dark forests in Europe are a modern phenomenon

For over 20 million years, the landscape of Europe has been a tree-rich mosaic of grasslands, scrubs and more or less open woodlands with an abundance of wildflowers. This is the conclusion of a new and comprehensive study ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Microplastics and nanoplastics in urban air originate mainly from tire abrasion, research reveals

Although plastic particles in the air are increasingly coming into focus, knowledge about their distribution and effects is still limited. Chemical analyses from Leipzig now provide details from Germany for the first time: ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Superfluids emerge in 2D moiré crystal formed from time, study predicts

Conventional crystals are materials in which atoms arrange themselves in repeating spatial patterns. Time crystals, on the other hand, are phases of matter characterized by repeating motions over time without constantly heating ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Newfound third cell type enables fully functional hair follicles in the lab

Hair regrowth treatment may soon take a major leap forward, as researchers in a recent study have successfully grown complete, fully functional hair follicles outside of the living body, in a dish. This was made possible ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / NASA's MAVEN detects first evidence of lightning-like activity on Mars

While sifting through the extensive data collected by NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft over the last decade, scientists discovered a familiar type of electromagnetic signal commonly caused ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient Greek priestesses may have turned ergot fungus into a psychedelic brew during the Eleusinian Mysteries

The Eleusinian Mysteries were secret religious rites in ancient Greece honoring the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone, and aimed to remove the fear of death. The ceremonies included days of fasting, rituals and ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Rare Type Icn supernova SN 2024abvb is among the most luminous known

An international team of astronomers has carried out photometric and spectroscopic observations of SN 2024abvb—a recently discovered supernova of a rare Type Icn. The new observational campaign yields important information ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum dynamics show 'memory' depends on whether states or observables evolve

An international group of researchers have investigated the role of memory in quantum systems and dynamics. Their findings show that a quantum process can appear memoryless from one perspective while retaining memory from ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Self-propelling microbes switch up swimming strategy to optimize light intake

Researchers in Hong Kong and the UK have revealed how one species of self-propelling microbes can actively change the path of their swimming motions, depending on how much light they receive. Reporting in Physical Review ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Trees cover rock, eventually: Study maps how bare Georgia bedrock turns into forest

In the forests of the southeastern United States, dense tree cover dominates most landscapes. That's why the Appalachian Trail is sometimes nicknamed "The Green Tunnel." But avid hikers know that often in the Southeast, they'll ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Chemists rapidly assemble fusicoccadiene, a complex fungal molecule tied to cancer research

A Florida State University chemist has developed a method to rapidly assemble significantly complex natural molecules with potential for biomedical applications, opening the door for novel drug therapies based on the molecule's ...

Mar 2, 2026
Phys.org / Feral horses and cattle create more resilient nature, rewilding study reveals

Protected natural areas across Europe are changing. Climate change, with rising temperatures and heavy rainfall, is turbocharging the growth of shrubs and trees, choking the flowers and insects that need the light and heat ...

Mar 2, 2026