Phys.org news

Phys.org / Cleaner fish show intelligence typical of mammals

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan have discovered a previously undiscovered behavior in cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). When presented with a mirror, the tiny fish not only recognized themselves, ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / 'All-in-one,' single-atom could power both sides of water splitting

Green hydrogen production technology, which utilizes renewable energy to produce eco-friendly hydrogen without carbon emissions, is gaining attention as a core technology for addressing global warming. Green hydrogen is produced ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / 3D method can accurately measure gravity in wide binary stars, as demonstrated by pilot study

Since the third Gaia data release in 2022, wide binary stars with separation greater than several thousand astronomical units have been intensely investigated across the world, to probe the nature of gravity in the low acceleration ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / REGALADE: The most extensive catalog of galaxies for modern astronomy

An international team of scientists led by the Institute of Cosmos Sciences at the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) has presented REGALADE, an unprecedented catalog covering ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Phonon lasers unlock ultrabroadband acoustic frequency combs

Acoustic frequency combs organize sound or mechanical vibrations into a series of evenly spaced frequencies, much like the teeth on a comb. They are the acoustic counterparts of optical frequency combs, which consist of equally ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / A survival strategy inside stressed cells: Ribosomes in pairs

Ribosomes, the cell's protein-making factories, consume large amounts of energy as they build the proteins that keep cells alive and functioning. When cells experience stress—such as lack of nutrients or sudden drops in ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Quantum trembling: Why there are no truly flat molecules

Traditional chemistry textbooks present a tidy picture: Atoms in molecules occupy fixed positions, connected by rigid rods. A molecule such as formic acid (methanoic acid, HCOOH) is imagined as two-dimensional—flat as a ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Impact-formed glass provides evidence of cosmic collision in Brazil about 6 million years ago

For the first time in Brazil, researchers have identified a field of tektites. These are natural glasses formed by the high-energy impact of extraterrestrial bodies against Earth's surface. These structures, named geraisites ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / How choices made by crowds in a train station are guided by strangers

In crowds, most people are strangers to you, and everyone else for that matter. However, until now, the effect of stranger-to-stranger interactions on the choices people make in crowds has not been properly examined. Ziqi ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Birds change altitude to survive epic journeys across deserts and seas

Every year, billions of birds undertake extraordinary migrations, crossing vast deserts and open seas with no place to stop, feed, or rest. A new international study published in iScience by a consortium of researchers from ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Americium, curium and californium—crystallizing the rarest elements

Actinides are a group of heavy, radioactive elements that include uranium, plutonium, americium, curium, berkelium and californium. Understanding how these elements bond with other atoms (known as coordination chemistry), ...

Feb 20, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Study identifies oaks, dry duff and debris as top power line failure risks

Wildfires and power outages caused by vegetation near powerlines have contributed to some of the state's most destructive fires.

Feb 20, 2026 in Earth