Phys.org news

Phys.org / New 'devil flower' species discovered in Thai national park

Researchers have described a new species of leafless flowering plant found on the forest floor of a national park in western Thailand, and its otherworldly appearance has earned it a fittingly dramatic name: Thismia daemona, ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Hubble tracks new decagon encircling Saturn's south pole

Recent observations with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have revealed a giant, evolving, 10-sided atmospheric wave encircling Saturn's south pole. This discovery marks the first time a large, regular-sided jet pattern has ...

Sep 2, 2026
Dialog / Making superconductors thinner can change how they accommodate magnetic fields

What happens when a superconductor becomes so thin that electrons can no longer behave as if they were moving through an ordinary three-dimensional piece of metal? This question has been at the center of my recent work on ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Blue Origin's New Glenn explosion shows infrasound can detect rocket accidents from up to 1,700 kilometers away

When Blue Origin's New Glenn launch vehicle accidentally exploded during a static test fire in May 2026, the explosion generated low frequency soundwaves below the range of human hearing.

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Five-metal 2D catalysts could convert CO₂ to CO without needing an extra electrical boost

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is usually discussed as something the world needs to get rid of. Activities such as the burning of fossil fuels for daily use, including electricity and transportation, and industrial applications release ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / 'Pac-Man' enzyme breaks down bioplastics and penicillin in laboratory tests

In the ocean, plastic waste collects to form large garbage patches that endanger marine life. This is partly because the synthetic plastic polymers used today can only be broken down biologically—that is, by microorganisms—at ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / New nanostructure makes non-linear light conversion 72,000 times more efficient

Researchers from Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) have developed an innovative method for coupling light non-linearly. This opens up new possibilities for ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Trees use a 'muscle' to correct their posture—a newly discovered role for tension wood

A research team from INRAE and the University Clermont Auvergne has shown that trees are capable of correcting a curvature they detect in their stems through a specific biological process. In the study, young trees with bent ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Trapped light generates nanoscale magnetization

Using an engineered metasurface that traps light, Cornell researchers have demonstrated a new way to generate strong static magnetic fields without using external magnets or magnetic materials—an approach that could advance ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden DNA in medieval gospels reveals history of deadly livestock virus

Some of Europe's most well-known historic manuscripts, including the York Gospels, have proven to be biological time capsules for uncovering the 3,500-year history of the sheeppox virus (SPPV).

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / Chemists design extra-sticky adhesives that degrade on command

A good adhesive is unequivocally sticky. A great adhesive is sticky until you don't want it to be sticky anymore—a label on cardboard until it's time to recycle it. Medical tape on a cut until the wound heals. A GWAR poster ...

Sep 2, 2026
Phys.org / What's in an 'O'? Unusual Greek spelling may unlock mystery of ring tied to Pontius Pilate

It's a small, simple ring made of copper alloy and engraved with a handful of Greek letters and the image of a pottery vessel. But its unremarkable appearance belies a remarkable history: The signet was likely connected in ...

Sep 2, 2026