Phys.org news

Phys.org / Coal pollution is cutting solar power output worldwide, study finds

New research led by the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) has revealed that pollution from coal-fired power plants is significantly reducing the energy output of solar photovoltaic (solar PV) installations, ...

May 15, 2026
Phys.org / Mathematical method calculates most efficient Earth-moon route yet

Researchers have developed a mathematical method that enables more precise calculations of the most economical travel routes between the orbits of celestial bodies. To demonstrate this method, they calculated a more efficient ...

May 15, 2026
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 / New species of venomous box jellyfish discovered in Singapore

Finding highly venomous box jellyfish that are almost invisible in water is not an easy task—but researching them is crucial so that we can learn how to safely avoid them. Stings from these "sea-wasps" are extremely painful ...

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 / When La Niña lingers: Researchers uncover two mechanisms behind multi-year events

Multi-year La Niña events—so-called "double-dip" or even "triple-dip" La Niñas—are becoming more common. But why do these events persist for multiple years in the first place?

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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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