Phys.org news

Phys.org / A thermodynamic approach to gravity could explain cosmic acceleration without dark energy

Gravity, the force that attracts objects toward each other, is currently framed by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. This framework describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime, the invisible four-dimensional ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / The universe should look the same in all directions at large scales, but DESI data suggest otherwise

Earlier this year, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) completed observations that mapped 47 million galaxies across 11 billion light-years, allowing astronomers to better evaluate the large-scale structure of ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists find molecular-level evidence for two structures in liquid water

A study published in Nature Physics provides new molecular-level evidence from simulations that liquid water is not a single uniform substance, but a constantly shifting mixture of two distinct microscopic structures.

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Thirsty desert lizards inspire a new water-harvesting system

When the desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) is thirsty, it cannot just lap up water or scoop it up like a bird because it lives in environments where water is extremely scarce. Typically, it's found in damp soil ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum waves reveal one-sided motion marking elusive critical states

Sound waves, light waves and other types of waves, generally spread freely through space and over time. In 1958, physicist Philip W. Anderson first described a phenomenon via which irregularities or other sources of disorder ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny water droplets transmutate aniline into pyridine in ambient and catalyst-free conditions

Aniline can now be transformed into pyridine without adding any catalysts, oxidants or toxic reagents. In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers achieved skeletal editing, involving ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Apes and humans have been sharing a laugh for 15 million years

Great apes may have been laughing with a similar rhythm to modern humans for at least 15 million years, a University of Warwick study reveals. The finding offers unexpected clues to how human speech evolved.

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Commute stress can fuel workplace conflict, but research suggests a simple fix

Pothole season, summer construction season or maybe bad weather. No matter the time of year, it's no surprise commuters who drive to work may start their day already feeling a bit on edge.

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / How ancient subduction zones helped create hotspots of mineral wealth

A study led by geoscientists at the University of Sydney has revealed why some ancient continental edges became fertile sites for major mineral deposits, while others with apparently similar geology did not.

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Ultra-fast light-shaping technology could be 'game-changer' for future imaging

Scientists have developed a new type of "virtual" metasurface—capable of controlling light in ways traditional lenses and optics can't—which they say is superior to the current approach, which relies on ultrathin engineered ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / Why old nuclear-site concrete could become a tool for trapping strontium-90

Crushed concrete from legacy nuclear facilities could play a far greater role in safely managing radioactive land than previously understood. Research published in ACS ES&T Water and conducted by scientists from the University ...

Jun 25, 2026
Phys.org / What really controls water chemistry in nanoscale spaces

Water is the most studied molecule on Earth, yet a surprisingly basic question has gone unanswered for decades: When water is squeezed into gaps just a few molecules wide—as happens inside nanoscale pores, membranes and biological ...

Jun 25, 2026