Phys.org news
Phys.org / A cataclysmic collision in space provides new clues on astronomy's biggest stalemate
Second only to black holes, neutron stars—incredibly dense star remnants—are the densest objects in the universe. When neutron stars collide, they create ripples in the fabric of space and time that we can detect on Earth.
Phys.org / Cosmic eruption caught in the act by submillimeter array's new fastest response system
On Jan. 26, 2026, the Submillimeter Array (SMA) on Maunakea crossed an important threshold for time-domain astronomy. For the first time, scientists from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) demonstrated ...
Phys.org / Newly discovered corn trait may help improve crop drought tolerance
Researchers report some corn plants are genetically predisposed to develop longer, less constricted water-conducting tissues and deeper roots, which helps them deal with drought. That's the conclusion of a team led by Penn ...
Phys.org / The largest digital camera ever built begins decade-long survey of the universe
The largest digital camera ever built is starting to capture images of unseen corners of the universe.
Phys.org / Rice grown on the moon? Air-to-fertilizer technology helps rice grow in lunar soil simulant
Securing sustainable food supplies is a key challenge for long-term human exploration and potential habitation of the moon. The moon's soil contains no organic material, and essential plant nitrogen sources like ammonia and ...
Phys.org / Extreme droughts in the rainforest reduce important feedback between soil and atmosphere, study finds
Isoprene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that is produced naturally by plants. More than 500 megatonnes of isoprene are emitted each year into Earth's atmosphere, primarily from tropical forests. Soils are recognized ...
Phys.org / Medici brothers' remains reveal Renaissance-era malaria strains, closing the book on a murder mystery
In 1562, Cardinal Giovanni de Medici, a scion of the dynastic family that dominated politics and banking in Tuscany during the Renaissance, died of malaria. Twenty-five years later, his older brother, Grand Duke Francesco ...
Phys.org / One‑step process generates high entropy alloy nanoparticles in milliseconds for catalyst creation
A University at Buffalo-led team of researchers has developed a method for producing advanced nanoparticles that could accelerate the discovery of new materials for energy and electronic applications. The study, published ...
Phys.org / Sound waves reconstruct Alaska fireball path after cameras miss key details
When a bright fireball streaked across the Alaska sky last spring, the usual tools scientists rely on to track such events—cameras and satellites—did not provide a detailed picture. But the meteoroid left behind something ...
Phys.org / World Cup research reveals strategy to give teams a penalty-shootout edge
One of football's most iconic moments—the penalty shootout—may be far more strategic than previously thought, with new research challenging the notion that the team kicking first holds a major advantage.
Phys.org / Computer scientists develop a new AI tool that rivals AlphaFold 3 in mapping RNA
The same family of artificial intelligence that powers today's image generators is now being aimed at one of biology's hardest puzzles: the ever-changing, three-dimensional shapes of RNA. These are the molecules behind mRNA ...
Phys.org / Bacteria use linked motors to reel in resistance DNA with extreme force
Every year, bacteria kill more than a million people worldwide through infections that no longer respond to antibiotics. In many cases, why those bacteria are so hard to stop comes down to their uniquely powerful structure.
