Phys.org news

Phys.org / Atomic outfittery: Targeted substitution unlocks record thermoelectric performance in Heusler compounds

A research team at TU Wien has succeeded in modifying known materials in such a way that they possess new, desirable properties. These materials are expected to find application in the field of thermoelectricity.

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / SNOR protein provides 'all-clear' signal for dormant cells to resume normal operations

It's a tough world for microbes. When resources grow limited and environments worsen, microbes have figured out ways to hunker down and go dormant until conditions improve.

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Laser treatment reshapes MOF pores, boosting CO₂ capture by up to 75%

A research team led by Hee-jung Lee, senior researcher at Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), in collaboration with Professor Sunghwan Park of Kyungpook National University and Professor Mingyu Kim of Yeungnam University, ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / How water fleas detect their predators

Daphnia, also known as water fleas, are artists of defense. When their predators live nearby, the water fleas change their body structure to make themselves more difficult to eat. Professor Linda Weiss from Ruhr University ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Sustainable electrosynthesis enables production of amines directly from airborne nitrogen

Amines are a functional group characterized by the presence of a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more alkyl or aryl (aromatic ring) groups. Derived from ammonia, amines play crucial roles in biological systems and various ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / More selective breeding might help flat-faced dogs to breathe easier

Breeding programs could alter heritable dog characteristics to reduce the rates of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), a breathing disorder common in dogs such as Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs—according ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Atomic step–terrace ordering enables unprecedented precision in mechanical testing

As modern technologies shrink to the nanoscale, surfaces increasingly dictate how materials deform, yield, and fail. Yet probing this regime has long been hindered by the challenge of preparing and controlling surfaces with ...

May 13, 2026
Phys.org / Gravitational waves from colliding black holes may allow detection of dark matter

Dark matter is thought to make up most of the matter in the universe, but the only way it interacts with its surroundings is through gravity. If two colliding black holes spiral through a dense region of dark matter and merge, ...

May 12, 2026
Phys.org / Work songs can improve team coordination, study finds

Work songs, musical pieces designed to be performed or sung while working, have been widely documented across various cultures and in different historical periods. For instance, people in different nations have been known ...

May 12, 2026
Phys.org / Gravitational wave detectors can now 'autotune' signals to harmonize the heavens

Gravitational wave researchers working on the world's most sensitive scientific instruments have found a way to tune their detectors using a process akin to the pitch-correction used in music production.

May 12, 2026
Phys.org / Engineered exosomes reverse sleep deprivation brain damage in mice

Sleep is a vital physiological process that allows humans and other animals to restore both the mind and body, while also consolidating memories, clearing out toxins and regulating their metabolism. Several past studies showed ...

May 12, 2026
Phys.org / Bright blazar reveals 433-day optical quasi-periodic oscillation across nine years

By analyzing the data from the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT), an international team of astronomers has discovered optical quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in a bright quasar known as 3C 454.3. It is so far one of the ...

May 12, 2026