Phys.org news

Phys.org / 'Tiny' dinosaur, big impact: A 90-million-year-old fossil rewrites history

A team co-led by University of Minnesota Twin Cities researcher Peter Makovicky and Argentinean colleague Sebastian Apesteguía has identified a 90-million-year-old fossil that provides the "missing link" for a mysterious ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Yogurt waste inspires researcher to innovate with sourdough bread

If you were one of the many amateur bakers who learned to bake sourdough bread during lockdown, you'll know how complex a single loaf can be. The rise of the bread, moisture, firmness and even crumb structure can make or ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Hair-like rhizoids in liverworts transport phosphorus, shedding light on evolution of roots

Liverwort uses hair-like rhizoids to collect phosphorus from its surroundings and deliver it to where it is needed. This Kobe University discovery sheds light on the evolution of one of the most essential features of land ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Vertebrate paleontology has a numbers problem. Computer vision can help

How many fossils does it take to accurately train an image-based AI algorithm? According to a new study co-authored by Bruce MacFadden, UF Distinguished Professor Emeritus and retired curator of vertebrate paleontology at ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Immune cells selectively pull DNA from dying nuclei, revealing a process dubbed nucleocytosis

Over the years, cell biology has built a detailed picture of how cells compartmentalize their internal functions. Central to this organization is the nucleus, which houses the genetic material and is separated from the cytoplasm ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Nano-cage removes up to 98% of PFAS in tap water tests

Contamination of ground, surface and drinking water by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affects millions of people worldwide. A promising new method developed by Flinders University scientists paves the ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Webb examines 'Exposed Cranium' nebula

Two heads are better than one in the latest images from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, which reveal new detail in a mysterious, little-studied nebula surrounding a dying star. Nebula PMR 1 is a cloud of gas and dust that ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Humanity's oldest geometries, engraved on ostrich eggs

At several archaeological sites in southern Africa, hundreds of highly unusual fragments of ostrich eggs have been found. Dating back more than 60,000 years, the shells were engraved by groups of Homo sapiens who lived in ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / A robust new telecom qubit identified in silicon

Quantum technologies are anticipated to transform computing, communication, and sensing by harnessing the unusual behavior of matter at the atomic scale. Translating quantum's promise into practical devices will require physical ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / The physics of sneaker squeaks: High-speed imaging shows how they arise from supersonic detachment pulses

Basketball shoes on a gym floor, bicycle brakes in need of a tune-up, or the squeal of tires are everyday examples of squeaking sounds. Such sounds have long been attributed to stick-slip friction, or a cycle of intermittent ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Land plants began reshaping Earth 455 million years ago, scientists discover

Pinpointing when early land plants colonized terrestrial environments and began influencing Earth's systems is a core question in the evolution of the Earth system. A research team led by Prof. Zhao Mingyu at the Institute ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Mother's breasts may protect a newborn from the cold—a new perspective on breast evolution

Humans differ from other primates due to their relatively large, permanent breasts, and their development has so far not been conclusively explained. According to a study conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, the ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology