Phys.org news

Phys.org / Mathematical framework maps landscape of student knowledge via short quizzes

When we learn something new, that information does not exist in isolation. It integrates into the complex landscape of our knowledge, forging connections with existing ideas and opening up possibilities for new learning. ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Boron arsenide semiconductor sets record in quantum vibrations

You may not be able to hear it, but all solid materials make a sound. In fact, atoms—bound in lattices of chemical bonds—are never silent nor still: Under the placid surface of each and every object in our surroundings, a ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / XRISM identifies gamma Cas X-ray origin, solving a 50-year-old stellar mystery

Visible to the naked eye in the constellation Cassiopeia, the star γ Cas has puzzled astrophysicists for half a century. It emits X-rays of an intensity and temperature incompatible with what one would expect from an ordinary ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Stolen chloroplasts maintained by host-made proteins offer clues to plant cell origins

Every plant cell is the product of a biological merger billions of years ago. Chloroplasts are key structures in plants and algae that capture sunlight, but originally they were free-living bacteria that took up residence ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Single-cell imaging and machine learning reveal hidden coordination in algae's response to light stress

Researchers from several Parisian institutions have worked together to develop a non-destructive approach to study how unicellular organisms respond to stress, focusing on cell-to-cell differences. Working together, the researchers ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / New lipid nanoparticle design improves precision of mRNA vaccine delivery

Penn Engineers have redesigned a key component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the delivery vehicles behind mRNA vaccines, to steer the particles toward lymph nodes while reducing off-target delivery to the liver. The advance ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Why cooperative workplaces boost your sense of freedom

Jack Welch, the legendary General Electric CEO, was infamous for firing the bottom 10% of his workforce every year, without exception. The company's market cap rose substantially during Welch's tenure, but his "rank and yank" ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Highly and casually active citizen scientists contribute equally valuable data

The word "nemotia" is a neologism, a newly coined term that in this case, describes the sense of overwhelmingness and disconnect accompanying the thought that nothing you do will ever make a difference. If this describes ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Preparing for the next pandemic: Scientists discover a new class of influenza antivirals

Researchers from Leiden University, University of York, University of Barcelona/IQTCUB/ICREA and The Francis Crick Institute report a new class of experimental compounds that powerfully block influenza viruses. The findings ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Snow flies produce bursts of heat and proteins to avoid freezing, new study finds

In a new study, Northwestern University scientists explored how snow flies—small, wingless insects that crawl across snow to find mates and lay eggs—survive in freezing cold temperatures. They discovered this snow-dwelling ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / The truth of timekeeping lies within: Key developments in understanding circadian rhythms

Almost all living things have an internal 24-hour clock that remains accurate regardless of temperature or other environmental changes. This clock is a highly sophisticated yet simple timekeeping mechanism that is critically ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / GNSS stations reveal fourfold turbulence during Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf melt

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), which include GPS, are traditionally used for positioning, timing, and mapping information. In an open-access study published Feb. 27 in Geophysical Research Letters, MIT Haystack ...

Mar 24, 2026