Phys.org news

Phys.org / Reusable magnetic invention removes microplastics plus some PFAS from water

Microplastics are an increasing global concern, with growing evidence of their presence in water systems. RMIT University researchers have developed a water treatment material that rapidly removes micro- and nanoplastics ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Water-surface vortices drive tiny rotors without electricity, magnets or chemicals

Reliably generating controlled miniature rotations has long been a challenge: Chemical propulsion systems wear out, and methods that use electric or magnetic fields require complex setups. A team from KIT's Institute of Microstructure ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Genome tool places large genetic sequences precisely in rice and tobacco without DNA breaks

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a new way to add large pieces of genetic information to plants, overcoming a challenge that has limited plant biotechnology for decades. ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Neural networks unlock larger quantum simulations with lower computational costs

In recent years, research using artificial intelligence to predict material properties has advanced rapidly. Neural network quantum Monte Carlo methods have attracted attention as highly accurate simulation techniques. However, ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Storms that built a graveyard: Ancient monsoons created a spectacular dinosaur fossil site

Around 80 million years ago, a stretch of tropical coastline in what is now northeastern Italy was lashed by monsoon rains and tropical cyclones. Those storms swept dinosaur carcasses, crocodiles, plants and river mud onto ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Left or right? Moths use a preferred side to inspect flowers for nectar

Just as humans exhibit right- or left-handedness, moths also have a preferred side on which they place their proboscis when inspecting a flower for nectar. This observation was made by Konstanz-based biologists in their latest ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Great Barrier Reef microbiome map reveals more than 500 new bacterial species

In 2012, Nature revealed that humans provide a home to thousands of different species of microbes in a series of papers that opened a path to understanding the impact of the human microbiome on our health.

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Global analysis reveals age as overlooked driver of food-related climate emissions

A new international study published in Nature Food reveals that age plays an important but often overlooked role in shaping global food-related greenhouse gas emissions. The study shows that dietary emissions can vary substantially ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Marine animals first colonized empty seashells about 470 million years ago

An international study led by researchers from the University of Tartu shows that approximately 470 million years ago, a significant ecological change took place in the world's oceans: For the first time, the interiors of ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / Fruit flies turn fleeting scent puffs into directional memories, study finds

When a fruit fly catches a whiff of a ripe peach, it quickly heads toward it. Time after time, it finds the fruit—even from many feet away and even if the scent arrives only as a few drifting, disconnected puffs. How do they ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / AI and quantum chemistry combine to identify efficient blue OLED materials

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have become a standard in modern devices with incredible contrast and sleek designs. While initially an expensive luxury, OLEDs are gradually becoming more financially accessible as the ...

Jul 22, 2026
Phys.org / How 'super' enzymes can transform recycling

From microplastics clogging up our oceans to landfills leaching dangerous chemicals, plastic waste is a serious and growing problem for human health and the environment. We need to recycle more and, crucially, recycle better.

Jul 22, 2026