Phys.org news

Phys.org / Beyond 0 and 1: Ferrotoroidic material can store four magnetic states

Today's computers store information using only two values: 0 and 1. But as electronic devices become smaller and reach their limits, scientists are searching for new ways to pack more information into the same space. One ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Birds clap in the dark to flirt: Nightjars reveal a hidden language of sound

Some birds sing to attract a mate. Others dance or display colorful feathers. But in the moonlit forests and shrublands of northern Argentina, one bird courts romance by snapping its wrists together, producing a sharp clapping ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Human cells can exchange genomic DNA that alters cell behavior

Scientists at Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) have discovered that large pieces of DNA can transfer directly between human cells, and the DNA can persist and change how the recipient ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Intrepid tails—fluke photos confirm humpback whales mount 14,000 km open ocean crossing to breeding grounds

An international team of scientists have documented, for the first time, humpback whales traveling between breeding grounds in eastern Australia and Brazil, crossing more than 14,000 kilometers of open ocean. The findings ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Urban life makes animals bolder, more aggressive across 133 species, analysis finds

A global analysis has found that urban animals are bolder and more aggressive, exploratory and active than their rural counterparts. The findings are published in the Journal of Animal Ecology.

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Seaweed study unlocks surprising solution for cattle nutrition and sustainable agriculture

Cows eat grass...everyone knows that. But climate change is forcing producers and scientists to rethink some of our long-held assumptions about livestock nutrition. Crop costs are climbing. Traditional pastures are under ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum-centric supercomputing simulates 12,635-atom protein

The scale of chemistry simulations with quantum computing has increased dramatically in just the last few months. In the latest milestone for the field, researchers from Cleveland Clinic, RIKEN, and IBM used a quantum-centric ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / DNA floating in seawater is now enough to let scientists monitor the health of America's dolphin populations

DNA is everywhere in the world's oceans—not only packaged inside cells from skin, scales, mucus, feces, and blood, but also floating freely. Sequencing such "environmental DNA" (eDNA) from open water has long been used as ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Extreme weather events are accelerating tidal wetland loss, satellite data show

Tidal wetlands are critical, yet vulnerable ecosystems. Tidal marshes, mangrove forests, and tidal flats support biodiversity, protect against flooding and storm surges, sequester carbon, and improve water quality. Due to ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Silver vine or catnip? When cats can choose, silver vine wins

What plant do cats love most? In Europe and North America, many people would probably answer "catnip." In Japan, the answer would more likely be silver vine (matatabi in Japanese). Both plants are famous for triggering the ...

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / New form of NAND flash data storage for deep space missions can survive 1 million rads

As space missions travel farther from Earth, spacecraft must increasingly be able to process and store their own data. Soon, artificial intelligence (AI) could be the primary tool for handling this growing volume of information.

May 19, 2026
Phys.org / Protected areas that help wildlife often do little for the soil fungi on which plants depend

Governments around the world conserve plants and animals in part by setting aside land. Whether as wilderness reserves or as resource management zones that allow industrial activities such as logging, 17.4% of the planet's ...

May 19, 2026