Phys.org news

Phys.org / Universal structure of exceptional points revealed in nonlinear light‑based systems

Exceptional points, or EPs for short, are among the phenomena of modern physics. These are special points or locations at which the properties of matter, space or time change. In a new theoretical study, researchers from ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Peptide isolated from a Cerrado frog increases strawberry shelf life

Five minutes. That was the amount of time that Oso Grande strawberries remained in contact with the Ctx(Ile21)-Ha peptide—a molecule isolated from a frog native to the Brazilian Cerrado—in experiments conducted in Brazil ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Destructive crop caterpillar harbors fungi that can degrade Styrofoam

A moth caterpillar identified by the agribusiness sector as one of the most destructive pests of soybean, cotton and corn crops may harbor fungi and bacteria in its gut that can degrade expanded polystyrene, also known as ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / How insect submariners survive the depths without imploding

Deep-diving insect larvae are challenging a long-held idea about why there are almost no insects in the ocean, thanks to sturdy air sacs. In Lake Malawi in East Africa, billions of lake fly larvae (Chaoborus edulis) make ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Earlier toilet training could curb growing diaper waste crisis

Earlier toilet training and new recycling technologies are among expert-backed solutions to reduce the environmental impact of disposable diapers and other hygiene products, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Simple circuit brings topological insulators closer to practical electrical measurement standards

Researchers at the University of Würzburg have succeeded in detecting exceptionally robust electrical transport in a topological insulator. This could lead to new metrological applications. The work is published in the journal ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Zebrafish rebuild damaged 'second brain' networks in nine days, offering clues for nerve repair

Why can zebrafish regenerate damaged gut nerves while humans largely cannot? Michigan State University researchers have developed a new research tool that allows them to remove gut neurons in zebrafish and watch them regenerate ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Global map reveals mining's uneven toll on forests and biodiversity

A new study led by Japanese researchers from Tohoku University and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) reveals that some of the minerals most essential for green technologies may have a significant negative ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Nanopores can activate human T cells without biochemical signals

Immune cells protect and heal the human body. In medicine, they are specifically activated through biochemical reactions to treat certain diseases. Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, ETH Zurich, Humboldt University ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Silkworm cultivation predates the Silk Road in southern Central Asia, ancient cocoons suggest

The silkworm moth, whose caterpillars have been used in silk production since antiquity, may have been brought to southern Central Asia 4,000 years ago—nearly 2,000 years earlier than previously assumed—according to new research ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / Heat is coming for Hawaiian corals, but study finds there may be time to adapt

Since the first major bleaching event in 1996, Hawaiian corals have been subject to increasing heat stress and more frequent bleaching events. New research from oceanographers at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa used high-resolution ...

Jul 23, 2026
Phys.org / New physics-based metric improves estimates of climate-driven cooling demand

New research led by atmospheric scientists at the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa found that the century-old yardstick used across many industries to estimate air-conditioning and refrigeration energy demand—called cooling ...

Jul 23, 2026