Phys.org news

Phys.org / Arctic cloud and ice formation affected by Russian river runoff as region studied for first time

Organic matter carried in rivers to the Russian part of the Arctic Ocean may be creating more clouds and keeping the region cooler, a new study has found.

Jan 22, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Accessing water on Mars: Examining the best technologies for future missions

A new study has examined how future human missions to Mars could access one of the planet's most vital resources—water. The "Martian aqua: occurrence of water and appraisal of acquisition technologies" paper, published ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / The hidden microbial communities that shape health in space

Microorganisms live in biofilms—the equivalent of microbial "cities"—everywhere on Earth. These city-like structures protect and house microbial communities and play essential roles in enabling human and plant health ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / 3D-printed surfaces help atoms play ball to improve quantum sensors

Scientists have created 3D printed surfaces featuring intricate textures that can be used to bounce unwanted gas particles away from quantum sensors, allowing useful particles like atoms to be delivered more efficiently, ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Rewilding corn reveals what its roots forgot

Corn is a colossal grain in the global food and feed chain, with the U.S. producing roughly 30% of the world's supply, or nearly 278 million metric tons in the 2024–25 growing season alone. But its journey from wild grass ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Sharktober: Scientists confirm spike in tiger shark bites in October

New University of Hawaiʻi research confirms that "Sharktober" is real, revealing a statistically significant spike in shark bite incidents in Hawaiian waters every October. The study, which analyzed 30 years of data (1995–2024), ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Domestication has changed the chemicals that squash flowers use to attract bees

Flowers emit scented chemicals to attract pollinators, but this perfume—and how pollinators interact with the plant—can go through profound changes as a crop becomes domesticated.

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Nash equilibria: The hidden math behind predator–prey behaviors

Animal survival depends on effective attack and defense strategies, yet how these behaviors arise remains unclear. Addressing this question, a recent study shows that predator and prey behaviors emerge naturally as stable ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Copper-carrying compound targets and kills MRSA bacteria by mimicking iron

A research team at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Tucson is developing a drug that works in combination with copper to kill bacteria, including those that cause MRSA, a type of staph infection that is resistant ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Living walls boost biodiversity by providing safe spaces for urban wildlife

Living walls—structures housing flowers and plants fitted to the outside of new and old buildings—can significantly enhance the biodiversity within urban environments, a new study has shown.

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Study reveals why light-driven chemical reactions often lose energy before bond-breaking

Florida State University researchers have discovered a pathway within a certain type of molecule that limits chemical reactions by redirecting light energy. The study could enable development of more efficient reactions for ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Single enzyme streamlines production of all four RNA building blocks

A single enzyme that can generate all four nucleoside triphosphates, the building blocks of ribonucleic acid (RNA), has been identified by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo. The study was published online in the ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology