Phys.org news

Phys.org / Sustainable chemistry: Iron substitutes noble metals in catalytic reactions

The production of many products used in everyday life and in industry, such as pharmaceuticals, plastics, and coatings, requires chemical catalysts, often expensive noble metals with limited availability. Researchers at the ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / 61 new beetle species reveal how little we still know about biodiversity

Even large and conspicuous insects remain unknown to science. This is highlighted by a new study from the Natural History Museum Denmark, where researchers have discovered and described 61 new species within the rove beetle ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / NASA missions track record-breaking radio burst from sun

When NASA scientists first observed a particular radio burst from the sun in August 2025, there was nothing unusual about it. But then the radio burst kept going. Typically, solar radio bursts like these last a few hours ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Climate change costs lives by breaking down social connection, says study

Climate change is widely understood as an environmental and economic threat, but new research from the University of Sydney shows it is also a growing social crisis, weakening the relationships people rely on to survive.

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / RNA's first letter may shape antiviral alarms, with A outpacing G

Researchers at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), led by Prof. Gracjan Michlewski, have shown that a subtle difference at the very beginning of an RNA molecule can influence how strongly ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Q&A: Evolution may reshape how urban forests, wetlands and reefs protect cities

Over the past decade, cities around the world have increasingly turned to nature-based infrastructure to become more resilient in the face of a changing climate. Urban forests provide shade during heat waves and improve air ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Fast-moving Gofar fault reveals quiet zones that may govern big earthquake timing

University of Delaware geologist Jessica Warren has contributed to research that brings us one step closer to better understanding how earthquakes operate. Situated along a stretch of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, between ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Tropical rivers emerge as biggest oxygen-loss hotspots in a warming world

According to a study published in Science Advances on May 15, global rivers are undergoing widespread and sustained deoxygenation driven by climate warming, among which tropical rivers are the most vulnerable ecosystems, ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Single-molecule RNA mapping may reveal how shape shifts steer health and disease

Researchers from A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore (A*STAR GIS) have developed a new method to study individual RNA molecules and reveal how their structures influence gene regulation, a fundamental process that affects ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Exploiting interfacial ionic mobility to make heat-moldable nanoparticle aggregates

If you have ever warped a cheap plastic cup by pouring coffee into it, then you have witnessed thermoplasticity in action. Thermoplasticity is the ability of a material to become pliable under heating. In industry, thermoplasticity ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Discovery could reshape RNA editing with DNA-guided CRISPR

A team of engineers at the University of Florida has developed a new form of CRISPR technology that could make diagnostics and treatments safer, more precise, and more affordable, while opening the door to entirely new ways ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / A hidden threshold enables tunable control of liquid crystal helices for energy-efficient technologies

Liquid crystals are an integral part of modern technology, ranging from displays to advanced sensory systems. In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers from the Institute of Experimental Physics of the Slovak ...

May 15, 2026