Phys.org news

Phys.org / Terahertz device sets performance record and opens new quantum horizons

A prototype device that has demonstrated record-breaking longevity could help open up new frontiers in next-generation communications and computing technologies.

Dec 3, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Debris disk gallery shows tell-tale signs of asteroids and comets in distant solar systems

Observations with the instrument SPHERE at ESO's Very Large Telescope have produced an unprecedented gallery of "debris disks" in exoplanetary systems.

Dec 3, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Solar wind storms may explain mystery surrounding Uranus' radiation belts

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists believe they may have resolved a 39-year-old mystery about the radiation belts around Uranus.

Dec 3, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Oldest mule in western Europe found in early Iron Age burial site

Researchers from the Prehistoric Studies and Research Seminar and the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Barcelona have identified the oldest mule documented in the western Mediterranean and continental Europe, ...

Dec 3, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Fish freshness easily monitored with a new sensor

To see if a fish is fresh, people recommend looking at its eyes and gills or giving it a sniff. But a more accurate check for food quality and safety is to look for compounds that form when decomposition starts.

Dec 3, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Tailored single atom platforms hold promise for next-generation catalysis

Catalysts play a vital role in modern society, supporting processes from metallurgy to pharmaceutical production. To reduce environmental impact and maximize efficiency, science has pushed the boundaries between homogeneous ...

Dec 3, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / New study offers a glimpse into 230,000 years of climate and landscape shifts in the American Southwest

Atmospheric dust plays an important role in the way Earth absorbs and reflects sunlight, impacting the global climate, cloud formation, and precipitation. Much of this dust comes from the continuous reshaping of Earth's surface ...

Dec 3, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Antibiotics could trigger immune response through gut microbiome metabolites

The microbes inside our bodies not only help break down food but also impact our health. Yet their precise influence is not always understood, especially in the presence of prescription drugs.

Dec 3, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Captive bottlenose dolphins vary vocalizations during enrichment activities

Dolphins produce a range of vocalizations used for echolocation and communication. These vocalizations vary with social context, environmental conditions, external stimuli, and communication, reflecting their cognitive and ...

Dec 3, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / AI-powered vision gives meaning to wildfire chaos

How wildfires spread is more variable and unpredictable than Canada's standard models assume, new research from UBC Okanagan data scientists shows.

Dec 3, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Animals maintain stability by monitoring their body position and correcting errors with every step

With every step we take, our brains are already thinking about the next one. If a bump in the terrain or a minor misstep has thrown us off balance, our stride may need to be altered to prevent a fall. Our two-legged posture ...

Dec 3, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Chemists synthesize a fungal compound that holds promise for treating brain cancer

For the first time, MIT chemists have synthesized a fungal compound known as verticillin A, which was discovered more than 50 years ago and has shown potential as an anticancer agent.

Dec 3, 2025 in Chemistry