Phys.org news

Phys.org / Bubbles the food-stealing dolphin finds shortcut to easy meal

A dolphin that harasses fish until they regurgitate their food—then swoops in to steal it—has astonished University of the Sunshine Coast researchers who have documented this novel feeding strategy.

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Adaptive crystal can selectively capture CO₂ and recognize similar molecules

Chemical separation can be energy-intensive when molecules have similar sizes and properties. Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, have now developed an interlayer adaptive crystal that changes its spacing ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / How individual cells 'surf' chemical waves to form a collective

Researchers have developed an innovative imaging technique to visualize the transition of single cells into multicellular organisms in new detail.

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Avoiding a sticky situation: How cells stop messenger RNAs from clumping together

Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is best known for carrying genetic instructions from DNA to the cellular machinery that makes proteins. But all RNA molecules have another, less appreciated property: They are naturally sticky.

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Satellite data reveal ESG scores track public image more than actual forest loss

Environmental sustainability researchers at NUS found that widely used environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings often fail to reflect companies' actual exposure to deforestation, highlighting the need to integrate ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Fertilizer study reveals where the world can boost food production and cut pollution

Global consumption of fertilizer has doubled since 1980, but some regions that have historically overused fertilizer, including China and parts of Europe, have taken steps to reduce use. Those are some of the findings of ...

Sep 15, 2026
Phys.org / Ultracold cesium atoms reveal Bethe strings predicted nearly a century ago

In 1931, physicist Hans Bethe predicted that, in certain one-dimensional quantum systems, particles can bind together to form multi-particle states known as Bethe strings. Unlike ordinary molecules, which are held together ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / How prehistoric coastal flooding shaped the Northern Adriatic

Researchers have shown how dramatic sea-level rise over a 5,000-year period profoundly changed the coasts of northern Italy, Slovenia and northern Croatia. Successive shaping and reshaping of coastal features influenced the ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Rivers may be carrying more microplastics into the world's oceans than previously thought

Microplastics are a modern environmental menace and a potential threat to human health. These tiny pieces of plastic, measuring from 1 to 5,000 micrometers, come mainly from larger plastics as well as sources such as paints ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / The surprising history of woolly rhinos: They weren't always creatures of the frozen north

Woolly rhinoceroses (Coelodonta antiquitatis) were fascinating creatures: giant, lumbering Ice Age beasts with thick fur and massive horns that died out about 11,000 years ago. Previous genetic studies had left open the question ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / Bizarre galactic radio source remains active for two decades with no detectable X-rays

Astronomers have identified a peculiar radio transient in the Milky Way that has remained active for more than two decades, defying the behavior expected of known classes of galactic radio sources. The paper posted to the ...

Sep 14, 2026
Phys.org / First confirmed Diplodocus outside North America reshapes Late Jurassic migration picture

In a discovery that challenges our understanding of dinosaur distribution during the Late Jurassic period, paleontologists have identified the first evidence of the iconic Diplodocus outside North America.

Sep 14, 2026