Phys.org news

Phys.org / Microplastics reach even 2,000 meters below the ocean surface, study finds

Plastic pollution has become a global environmental crisis, with an estimated 11 million tons of plastic entering the oceans each year. As larger plastic debris breaks down into microplastics, these tiny particles are transported ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny water droplets convert stubborn plastic waste into valuable acids, study finds

A new way of converting stubborn plastic waste into high-value chemicals using only water and oxygen has been developed by an international team of scientists.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Risks of solar storms may be underestimated, warn researchers

The effects of extreme space weather may be larger than previously thought, research in the journal Nature reveals. The paper, titled "Regression to the mean can explain saturation of geomagnetic storms," is led by Dr. Nithin ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / T. rex was likely responsible for some tooth marks on fossil bones from Cretaceous era

A collection of fossilized dinosaur bones from Wyoming features tooth marks that provide evidence that some bites were likely made by Tyrannosaurus rex, according to a study published July 15, 2026, in PLOS One by Bethania ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Sensitive measurements uncover dual superconducting states in atom-thin NbSe₂ and TaS₂

A new study reveals that two widely studied ultrathin superconducting materials are more sophisticated than they appear. Although they seem to behave like simple superconductors with a single energy gap, they actually contain ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Birds respond differently to environmental change—and their traits explain why

A sweeping new Cal Poly study of North American birds reveals that environmental change does not affect all species equally and that a bird's traits can explain whether populations rise or fall as local conditions change.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Stealth anticancer nanoparticles made from mussel proteins that 'lie in wait and attack only cancer cells'

Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the deadliest cancers because it is often diagnosed late and is difficult to treat. However, a South Korean research team has developed "smart nanoparticles" that remain hidden in normal ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / NASA's Perseverance rover reads record of ancient Mars impacts

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has uncovered evidence that a 245-foot-thick (75-meter-thick) stack of ancient rock on the rim of Jezero Crater was built by repeated asteroid impacts. Referred to as the "Broom Point member" ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Prey accessibility, not abundance, may shape predator behavior in penguins

Large seabird colonies have a surrounding boundary known as Ashmole's halo, where food sources are depleted, forcing the birds to travel farther to gather the food they need. The reason seems obvious—the more birds, the more ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / New method scales up twist-engineered oxide materials for future electronics

Researchers have shown it is possible to expand the field of twistronics—literally. They have demonstrated a technique that allows them to fabricate oxide twistronic materials at much larger scales while also controlling ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Bacteria form 'herds' to survive predators, offering fresh insight into Earth's carbon cycle

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have discovered that tiny photosynthetic bacteria band together into protective "herds" when attacked by predators—a survival strategy that could also influence how carbon is ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / New study pinpoints Europe's most critical wetlands for climate action

Wetlands have shaped human life in Europe since ancient times. These ecosystems provided essential resources and safe havens for plants and animals, and in many regions they also held spiritual and ritual significance. For ...

Jul 15, 2026