Phys.org news

Phys.org / Roman telescope will spot distant black holes that shred stars

How do black holes at the centers of galaxies form and grow over time? To answer this question, scientists need to detect and study supermassive black holes at great distances that existed much earlier in the universe's history. ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Research brings the era of microbial cell factories one step closer

The era of "biomanufacturing," in which microbes, not petroleum, produce chemical products, is one step closer. A KAIST research team has analyzed the key challenges limiting the commercialization of biomanufacturing and ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Magnetic fingerprint of a cosmic explosion detected for the first time

Astronomers have made a series of landmark observations of one of the universe's most violent events. Using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) radio telescope, which is operated by the U.S. National ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / The spin of Pluto's moon, Charon, may be slowing down

Evidence of the slowing of Charon's spin period (despinning) is recorded in tectonic features on the surface of Pluto's icy moon, according to a modeling study published in Nature Communications. The findings offer insights ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden muscle machinery reveals 50 new gene subfamilies across vertebrates

Within every muscle of every living species with a backbone, a protein called myosin tugs on a partner protein to generate a muscle contraction. This function, discovered in mammals a century ago, has been presumed by scientists ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Honey bees' sense of smell changes from larval to adult life stages, study finds

Honey bee larvae lack the sophisticated olfactory capabilities of adult honey bees, a new study finds. Scientists point to this temporary loss of function as a side effect of the nurse bees' heroic level of brood care, calling ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / New atomic trap boosts quantum performance by using surface forces

Researchers at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin have developed a new method for trapping and controlling atoms near an ultrathin glass fiber. This has significantly improved the atoms' ability to store quantum information—an ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Space cargo costs could fall more than 90% by 2040, study suggests

The expense of launching cargo into space will plummet over the next few years, with the cost of reaching orbit forecast to more than halve between now and the end of the decade, and fall by around 93% by 2040, according ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Heavy-element exotic dust may solve a neutron star merger mystery

When neutron stars merge, they create a powerful explosion called a kilonova that flings out neutron-rich material, some of which decays into heavy elements through a process called the r-process. Recent observations of kilonovae ...

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / With an eye toward exploration, researchers map moon's regolith thickness

New research by lunar scientists from Brown University provides critical new insights into the thickness of the moon's regolith, the layer of loose dust and rock that drapes the entire lunar surface.

Jul 14, 2026
Phys.org / Bio-metal: Exploring the metallic mystery of an ancient maw

When playing the classic game "20 Questions," one may begin with the common opener: "Animal, vegetable, or mineral?"

Jul 14, 2026
Dialog / How the built environment can help protect mental health in a changing climate

When people think about climate change, they often picture melting glaciers, stronger storms, rising temperatures, or prolonged droughts. These visible consequences dominate headlines and shape public discussions. Yet another ...

Jul 14, 2026