Phys.org news

Phys.org / Researchers capture inception of hydrogen-uranium reaction for the first time

When hydrogen gas interacts with uranium metal, the combination creates a chemically reactive powder and a runaway reaction that is difficult to stop. The result can impact the safety and lifespan of technology critical for ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / How homing pigeons keep navigation simple when winging their way home together

When it comes to flocking together, homing pigeons use a simple strategy to find better ways home, according to a recent report. The study, published in the journal eLife, suggests that homing pigeons use simple route averaging ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / As wolves recover, golden jackals may still conquer most of Europe thanks to 'human shield'

Human activity may be enabling the expansion of golden jackals across Europe by reducing the suppressive effect of gray wolves, suggests research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. This human-mediated interaction could ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Trophic rewilding by large herbivores supports insect diversity, scientists find

Insects are declining across Europe. Czech scientists have determined this decline can be mitigated by returning large ungulates—horses, aurochs cattle, and wisents—to landscapes. This has been shown by a recent study by ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny on-chip circuit could power next-generation quantum and AI technologies

Researchers from Monash University have developed a breakthrough nanoscale circuit that can generate, direct, and read light-based information, all on a single chip.

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Teaching thermodynamic laws to AI unlocks a polymer modeling challenge

For more than half a century, materials scientists have struggled with how to simulate the complexity of polymer materials. An individual chain can comprise tens of thousands of atoms, a melt or composite contains billions, ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Surface design transforms thermal management and enables frictionless systems

A research team led by Professor Steven Wang, Associate Vice President (Resources Planning) and Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and School of Energy and Environment, has designed a revolutionary ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / ATLAS observes new Bc meson excited state

Protons and neutrons—the building blocks of matter—belong to a huge class of particles called hadrons. Hadrons are composite particles made of quarks that are bound together by the strong force. They are classified into two ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Plastic upcycling method turns food packaging into faster-degrading materials

Scientists have discovered a way to convert widely used plastics into new materials with distinct properties that degrade more rapidly. Applying this new process to upcycle existing plastics—such as those used for food packaging ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient dust points to retreat of West Antarctic Ice Sheet during last warm period

Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet may have been far smaller during one of Earth's most recent warm periods, according to a new study that traced the origin of ancient dust preserved in Antarctic ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Discovery of furtivovirus advances understanding of giant virus evolution

In evolutionary biology, all life on Earth is theoretically part of a single phylogenetic tree, indicating common ancestry. This model suggests that every living organism can be traced back to a distant common ancestor. However, ...

May 26, 2026
Phys.org / Rattlesnakes among most vulnerable to fungal disease and parasitic lung infection

Snakes are threatened with extinction in many places around the globe. Disease, often caused by parasites or fungi, is thought to be one of the key factors alongside habitat destruction. Prominent among fungal diseases is ...

May 26, 2026