Phys.org news

Phys.org / Austrian cow shows first case of flexible, multi-purpose tool use in cattle

In 1982, cartoonist Gary Larson published a now-iconic "Far Side" comic titled "Cow Tools." In it, a cow stands proudly beside a jumble of bizarre, useless objects that are "tools" in name only. The joke hinged on a simple ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Quantum 'alchemy' made feasible with excitons

What if you could create new materials just by shining a light at them? To most, this sounds like science fiction or alchemy, but to physicists investigating the burgeoning field of Floquet engineering, this is the goal. ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Marine wildlife rarely interact with tidal turbines—and usually avoid collisions when they do, observations show

Tidal turbines harbor the potential to provide a natural, inexhaustible source of power, but have faced some regulatory hurdles and scientific uncertainty about risks to marine life.

Jan 19, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A new nanorobot designed to improve immune cell recognition could help treat colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer, the abnormal growth of cancerous cells in the large intestine or the rectum, is one of the most common types of cancers worldwide. Available treatments for this type of cancer include chemotherapy, radiation ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / X-ray observations reveal hidden disturbances in galaxy cluster Abell 3571

Using the Einstein Probe (EP), astronomers from China and Germany have observed a nearby galaxy cluster known as Abell 3571. Results of the observational campaign, published January 8 on the arXiv pre-print server, provide ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / A shark's energy reserves are linked to how far it travels, suggests new study

For years, researchers have tagged sharks in the world's oceans to learn where they go, how they migrate and where they feed. While these tags have given us a wealth of data about their lives, many questions still remain. ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Physicists uncover hidden magnetic order in the mysterious pseudogap phase

Physicists have uncovered a link between magnetism and a mysterious phase of matter called the pseudogap, which appears in certain quantum materials just above the temperature at which they become superconducting. The findings ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Some moral acts matter more than others, study shows

Every day, we quietly judge the people around us. Did that co-worker split the credit fairly? Did a neighbor return a lost package? Did someone cut in line or respect the rules?

Jan 19, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / First direct evidence of Migdal effect opens new path for dark matter search

In a landmark discovery that bridges nearly a century of theoretical physics, a Chinese research team has successfully captured the first direct evidence of the Migdal effect, a breakthrough with profound implications for ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / AI helps reveal global surge in floating algae

For the first time and with help from artificial intelligence, researchers have conducted a comprehensive study of global floating algae and found that blooms are expanding across the ocean. These trends are likely the result ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Observing the positronium beam as a quantum matter wave for the first time

One of the discoveries that fundamentally distinguished the emerging field of quantum physics from classical physics was the observation that matter behaves differently at the smallest scales. A key finding was wave-particle ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Beta-decay half-life measurements reveal evolution of nuclear shell structure

An international team of researchers has systematically measured the β-decay half-lives of 40 nuclei near calcium-54, providing key experimental data for understanding the structure of extremely neutron-rich nuclei.

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics