Phys.org news

Phys.org / Do even low-mass dwarf galaxies merge? New clues from the outer stars of a Milky Way satellite

Using the Subaru Telescope's wide-field camera, astronomers have discovered a previously unknown structure surrounding a tiny satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The newly discovered structure exhibits features resembling ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Atomic-level surface control boosts brightness of eco-friendly nanosemiconductors by 18-fold

Light-emitting semiconductors are used throughout everyday life in TVs, smartphones, and lighting. However, many technical barriers remain in developing environmentally friendly semiconductor materials.

Jan 14, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Type Ia supernova delayed-detonation model supported by SN 2024gy observations

A research team from the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with domestic and international partners, has carried out observational studies on SN 2024gy—a high-velocity Type ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Ancient Tethys Ocean shaped Central Asia's landscape, study suggests

New research from Adelaide University suggests the power of the ancient Tethys Ocean might have shaped Central Asia's topography during the Cretaceous period.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Rocks and rolls: The computational infrastructure of earthquakes and physics of planetary science

Sometimes to truly study something up close, you have to take a step back. That's what Andrea Donnellan does. An expert in Earth sciences and seismology, she gets much of her data from a bird's-eye view, studying the planet's ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Ancient teeth are treasure troves of data on Iron Age lifestyles

Teeth provide a wealth of information about the lives of Iron Age Italians, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Roberto Germano of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy and colleagues.

Jan 14, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / A nanomaterial flex—MXene electrodes help OLED display technology shine, while bending and stretching

The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology behind flexible cell phones, curved monitors, and televisions could one day be used to make on-skin sensors that show changes in temperature, blood flow, and pressure in ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Fire on ice: The Arctic's changing fire regime

The number of wildland fires burning in the Arctic is on the rise, according to NASA researchers. Moreover, these blazes are burning larger, hotter, and longer than they did in previous decades.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / AI tools are expanding individual capabilities while contracting scientific attention, research finds

Artificial intelligence promises to accelerate scientific discovery and open new frontiers of inquiry. But new research from James Evans (Faculty Co-Director of Novel Intelligence; Max Palevsky Professor of Sociology & Data ...

Jan 14, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Crop droughts set to worsen—even as rainfall increases

Europe and western North America will experience more frequent and severe crop droughts as Earth warms, even in places where yearly rainfall increases.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Hydrogel cilia set new standard in microrobotics

Cilia are micrometer-sized biological structures that occur frequently in nature. Their characteristic high-frequency, three-dimensional beating motions (5–40 Hz) play indispensable roles inside the body.

Jan 14, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / From bolts to blue jets, lightning comes in many strange forms

Lightning has captured people's fascination for millennia. It's embedded in mythology, religion and popular culture. Think of Thor in Norse mythology or Indra in Hinduism.

Jan 14, 2026 in Earth