Phys.org news

Phys.org / NASA finds extreme star collision in unlikely spot

A fleet of NASA missions has likely uncovered a collision between two ultradense stars in a tiny galaxy buried in a huge stream of gas. Astronomers have never seen this type of explosive event in an environment like this ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Miniature laser technology could bring lab testing into your home

A research team at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has developed new laser technology that could lead to tiny, cost-effective biosensors. The sensors integrate lasers and optics together on a centimeter-sized chip, ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Could ultrasound help save hedgehogs?

Researchers at the University of Oxford have suggested that ultrasound-repellers could help reduce hedgehog deaths caused by cars. The proposal is based on new findings, published in Biology Letters, which demonstrate for ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Antarctic waters DNA survey discovers many microbial genes new to science

The Southern Ocean—vast, boundless waters surrounding Antarctica—plays an outsized role in global climate, largely thanks to tiny drifting organisms called plankton that soak up carbon. Reporting in Nature Communications ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Chemical shifts help track molecules breaking apart in real time

When molecules fall apart, their electric charge doesn't stay put—it rearranges as bonds stretch and break. An international team of scientists has now tracked these ultrafast changes in the small molecule fluoromethane ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Gnaw-y by nature: Researchers discover neural circuit that rewards gnawing behavior in rodents

Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that the constant gnawing of rodents isn't just a reflex or a consequence of a tough diet. It also triggers a release of dopamine in the brain—which acts as a biochemical ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / A new model defines an upper limit to planetary radiation belt intensity

We all know that stars radiate light and much more. But radiation belts can also surround many other celestial bodies, such as planets. These belts do not generate particles themselves—the belts receive them from nearby ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Telomere breaks provide new insights into chaotic chromosome mutations

Researchers at Cardiff University have uncovered how a particularly severe form of DNA damage arises—shedding new light on mutation processes that contribute to cancer and inherited genetic conditions. The study, led by ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Soil health index finds restored mangroves can near full function

Brazilian researchers have developed an index that can measure the health of mangrove soils at different stages. When applied to degraded, restored, and preserved areas, the index revealed that healthy mangroves, including ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists document Europe's first Jurassic lizard trackways in Asturias

The article presenting the research results was published online at the end of February in the journal Ichnos. The study focuses on two trackways (T1 and T2) preserved as convex hyporeliefs on the underside of a Late Jurassic ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists control 'free-flowing' electric currents with light

By controlling magnetic fields using light, a team of researchers led by NTU scientists has solved a long-standing challenge to precisely direct electric currents produced by quantum materials. Their findings unlock new avenues ...

Mar 10, 2026
Phys.org / Electron microscopy maps protein landscapes that drive photosynthesis

Research led by scientists at Washington State University has revealed insights on how plants form a microscopic landscape of proteins crucial to photosynthesis, the basis of Earth's food and energy chain. The discovery provides ...

Mar 10, 2026