Phys.org news

Phys.org / Mechanical shortcut' rapidly carries organic particles into the deep ocean

The processes that capture carbon from the atmosphere and store it on the seabed are crucial for climate balance. However, assessing these mechanisms is often complicated because it requires measurements ranging from the ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Metal deposits reveal how ice ages reshaped oxygen levels across Earth's oceans

Earth's oceans repeatedly lost oxygen and produced metal deposits during the planet's deepest ice ages. An international team of researchers analyzed manganese and other chemical signatures preserved in more than 27,000 ancient ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Four labs find experimental differences can undermine AI catalyst predictions

To turn abundant carbon dioxide into valuable fuel, we need a fast and efficient way to determine which catalysts work best over the longest time. AI models have the potential to help guide catalyst selection, but as with ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Why we overestimate the positive impact of our actions on the climate

Why is recycling waste or switching off the lights sometimes perceived as more effective for the climate than giving up air travel? A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) surveyed nearly 3,000 people and identified ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Underground fungal networks come into 3D view without disturbing plant roots

Symbioses between plants and fungi are essential for most plants. Fungal structures known as mycorrhizae extend the area from which plants can draw water and nutrients from the soil. In return, plants supply the fungi with ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Over 100 South American lakes could become climate-change early-warning observatories

More than 100 shallow lakes stretching over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) along the Atlantic coast of southern Brazil and Uruguay could become one of the world's most important natural laboratories for understanding how climate ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Pixel patterns harness diffraction for faster, more accurate nanoscale 3D printing

Researchers at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering have developed a new approach to nanoscale 3D printing that improves both speed and fidelity, overcoming a challenge that has limited the technology's ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Humpback whales match song themes to dive phases, tags reveal

For male humpback whales, singing is serious business. Their haunting, complex songs can last for hours and travel for miles underwater, playing a central role in reproduction during the winter breeding season. But despite ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Cells of the same age can follow sharply different biological aging paths

New research reveals that cells of the same chronological age can follow dramatically different biological aging paths, offering new insights into cancer, neurodegeneration and the fundamental biology of aging. Rather than ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists watch, molecule by molecule, as cell helpers rescue problem proteins

University of Wollongong (UOW) scientists have uncovered, for the first time, exactly how two of the cell's "helper" proteins operate as a rescue crew for misfolded proteins, a discovery that sheds new light on the molecular ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Light controls nanoscale 'bubble' domains in a ferroelectric crystal

Researchers at Flinders University have discovered an unexpected way light can control tiny electronic structures inside advanced materials, a development that could help pave the way for more energy-efficient memory devices, ...

Aug 3, 2026
Phys.org / Forest floors reveal overlooked seed dispersers: Slugs, beetles and crabs spread viable seeds

A review led by the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has revealed that tiny ground-dwelling invertebrates are overlooked but important seed dispersers, challenging the traditional focus on ...

Aug 3, 2026