Phys.org news

Phys.org / Anak Krakatau erupts, disrupting 300,000 travelers as 1883 disaster looms large

Indonesia's Mount Anak Krakatau has erupted again this week, sending plumes of volcanic ash high into the sky and disrupting hundreds of flights. More than 300,000 passengers have been affected.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Decades-old DNA mystery solved after strands are captured zipping together for the first time

Researchers have captured the moment two DNA molecules zip together, overcoming their identical negative charges to pair up and revealing a mechanism that has puzzled scientists for more than 20 years. Using high-powered ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / How we manage and engage with horses may shape their personality

A new study reveals that horse personality is not only a matter of genetics, age or breed but also systematically linked to how horses are housed, ridden and cared for, and to the quality of the relationship they share with ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / How adoption of a new crop reshaped land use in Bronze Age Europe

A new study published in Science Advances reveals how Bronze Age communities in Central Europe adapted to changing environmental and social conditions by adopting broomcorn millet, a fast-growing, climate-resilient crop.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Electrochemical system extracts pure hydrogen from ammonia at substantially lower temperatures

As a liquid that is easily stored and transported, ammonia (NH3) is an attractive carrier for hydrogen, which is used in fuel cells, semiconductor manufacturing, chemical processing and other applications. However, breaking ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / New AI model for DNA learns from evolution to unlock secrets of the human genome

More than two decades after scientists first sequenced the entire human genome—all 3 billion base pairs, of DNA code—the meaning of much of this code remains a mystery.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Unconventional quantum materials could dramatically boost the search for dark matter

For decades, physicists have searched for dark matter, the invisible substance thought to make up roughly 85% of all matter in the universe. Although its gravitational influence shapes galaxies and the large-scale structure ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / OpenAI says 10,000 AI agents cracked one of math's hardest problems in 88 hours

OpenAI said Tuesday that one of its unreleased artificial intelligence models had solved a mathematical puzzle that has eluded mathematicians for generations, a claim that also drew a fight with rival researchers over credit.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Beryllium signal identifies stars that have swallowed rocky planets

An international team led by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil has developed an innovative method to identify stars that have consumed the planets around them. The technique detects variations in ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / First Denisovan forearm bone discovered in southwest China

Scientists have discovered various Denisovan remains in Southwest China dating to the late Middle Pleistocene, including the first Denisovan radius—one of two long bones in the forearm.

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / Cacao genetics could help breeders reduce heavy metal levels in cocoa beans

Cadmium is a naturally occurring, toxic heavy metal found in many soils across Latin America and the Caribbean, where cacao trees are widely cultivated. It makes its way into cocoa seeds, called beans, that are roasted and ...

Sep 9, 2026
Phys.org / 3D magnetic-field control reveals new way to tune spin textures

(Fe0.63Ni0.3Pd0.07)3P, or FNPP, is a magnetic material that exhibits complex magnetic structures even at room temperature. This makes the material of interest for spintronics, a field that could enable data processing with ...

Sep 9, 2026