Phys.org news

Phys.org / Atomic channels can separate rare earth elements from each other without using toxic chemicals

Rare earth elements like lanthanum, neodymium and dysprosium are used to build the electric motor in your car, the LED lights in your house and the MRI machine at your doctor's office. But first, they have to be mined and ...

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / New technique enables LIGO to peer farther into the distant universe

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, have developed a new way to help gravitational-wave observatories see farther into the universe by solving one of their biggest challenges: tiny heat-induced distortions ...

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / New radio-burst method helps locate universe's missing ordinary matter

Stars and galaxies make up much of the universe's ordinary, observable matter. But for decades, scientists have wrestled with a cosmic conflict: There should be much more.

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / Simulations show distinct ground motion signatures of supershear earthquakes

Sustained supershear earthquake ruptures produce distinct ground-motion characteristics compared with subshear earthquakes, according to a study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, with potential ...

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / Animals in prehistoric paintings reveal hidden pattern across nine Basque caves

Iñaki Intxaurbe, a researcher at the EHU-University of the Basque Country, analyzed the distribution of images in nine caves in the Basque Country using network-based analysis and statistical techniques.

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / Zoo elephant survival has improved substantially over 6 decades, international study finds

Elephants living in modern zoos are living significantly longer than they did half a century ago, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. The research—led by ZSL (the Zoological Society of London) ...

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / Mysterious gas 'bullets' race from Milky Way's only known helium nova at up to 20 million mph

Mysterious high-speed "bullets"—clumps of possibly oxygen-rich gas traveling at up to 20 million miles per hour—have been discovered shooting out of the rarest stellar explosion in our galaxy.

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / From quantum error correction to emergent gravity: Probing holographic universes at QLab

One of the deepest ambitions in modern physics is understanding how the fabric of space and time could emerge from fundamental quantum degrees of freedom to establish a quantum theory of gravity.

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / Students unearth rare, centuries-old pot at Florida Spanish mission site

Some 400 years ago, a member of the Indigenous Potano-Timucua tribe scooped up some clay and carefully molded it into a modest vessel, small enough to rest in the palm of their hand. You can imagine their fingers pressing ...

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / New study into humans' closest ape relatives suggests physical touch can promote social harmony

Physical touch may be an important evolutionary tool to help manage social tension and keep the peace. That is according to a new study led by Durham University in the UK, analyzing behaviors of our closest ape relatives, ...

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / Birds flying in 'V' formation save energy with flatter flaps, new research shows

Scientists have known for years that birds like geese and ibises gain an aerodynamic advantage from flying in a "V" formation. Now, researchers from Brown University have provided new insights into the nature of that advantage.

Jul 21, 2026
Phys.org / Geophysics brings clarity to the potential of natural hydrogen

Natural hydrogen is considered a potential low-carbon energy source. But how much is generated underground—and how quickly? An international research team led by the LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics in Hannover has published ...

Jul 21, 2026