Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ice Age origins of one of humanity's oldest drug habits discovered

A team of Griffith University archaeologists has uncovered evidence that humans were using mind-altering substances much earlier than previously supposed.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / A 66.5-million-year-old trackway captures adult T. rex at walking pace

Scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Liverpool John Moores University in England have discovered the first adult T. rex trackway, providing insights into how this emblematic predator moved. The findings ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Could quantum protocols make electronic voting more secure?

Electronic voting, the use of electronic systems to cast, record or count votes, could potentially simplify the process of electing new political leaders or other representatives. While some countries have already started ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Canada's last epishelf lake is gone for good, study confirms

Canada's last epishelf lake drained into the Arctic Ocean following the 2020 breakup of the Milne Ice Shelf and will not recover, a new study confirms.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / JWST discovers that Chariklo's invisible rings are changing

Until just over a decade ago, ring systems were thought to be exclusive to the giant planets of the solar system, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. However, in 2013, a small body barely 250 kilometers (155 miles) ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / New insect genus and four species named for Taylor Swift and her albums

Taylor Swift is now the namesake of a genus of plant-feeding insects from Australia that were previously unknown to science.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Helium measurements clarify conditions seconds after the Big Bang

New observations of the composition of distant galaxies offer insights into the earliest phases of the universe and confirm decades of scientific understanding of the elements and particles produced by the Big Bang, according ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Anak Krakatau erupts, disrupting 300,000 travelers as 1883 disaster looms large

Indonesia's Mount Anak Krakatau has erupted again this week, sending plumes of volcanic ash high into the sky and disrupting hundreds of flights. More than 300,000 passengers have been affected.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Decades-old DNA mystery solved after strands are captured zipping together for the first time

Researchers have captured the moment two DNA molecules zip together, overcoming their identical negative charges to pair up and revealing a mechanism that has puzzled scientists for more than 20 years. Using high-powered ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / How we manage and engage with horses may shape their personality

A new study reveals that horse personality is not only a matter of genetics, age or breed but also systematically linked to how horses are housed, ridden and cared for, and to the quality of the relationship they share with ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / How adoption of a new crop reshaped land use in Bronze Age Europe

A new study published in Science Advances reveals how Bronze Age communities in Central Europe adapted to changing environmental and social conditions by adopting broomcorn millet, a fast-growing, climate-resilient crop.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Electrochemical system extracts pure hydrogen from ammonia at substantially lower temperatures

As a liquid that is easily stored and transported, ammonia (NH3) is an attractive carrier for hydrogen, which is used in fuel cells, semiconductor manufacturing, chemical processing and other applications. However, breaking ...

Sep 9, 2026