Phys.org news

Phys.org / Europe's worst medieval flood highlights risk of successive extreme events

New research involving the University of Liverpool has provided comprehensive insights into the largest flood event in Europe over the past millennium—the flood traditionally known as "St. Mary Magdalene's Flood" of 1342.

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Microbes turn CO₂ into protein and vitamin B9 at commercially viable prices

Researchers are developing biotechnological processes that enable microbes to produce proteins and vitamins for human consumption using basic chemical ingredients, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oxygen—entirely bypassing ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Unsupervised free time increases the likelihood that adolescents will engage in violent behavior, 21-country study finds

A study involving more than 58,000 adolescents from 21 countries found that "unstructured free time"—defined as periods without adult supervision or activities guided by educational, cultural or athletic goals—is strongly ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Graphene nanowrinkles could reshape electricity in future ultrathin devices

Rice University researchers have shown that tiny wrinkles in graphene can change the material's electrical properties, providing evidence for flexoelectricity, a phenomenon in which a material generates an electric charge ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Drug-carrying nanoparticles shrink venous malformations by 70% in mice

Venous malformations are abnormally shaped veins that develop when the cells lining blood vessels grow too fast when they aren't supposed to. Children can be born with them, and as the child grows, the venous malformations ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / How drought is reshaping the spread of infectious diseases

From the American West to Europe, droughts are drying up rivers, fueling destructive fires and reshaping ecosystems. They are also changing the spread of infectious diseases, leading to surges in illnesses like cholera and ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / The internet can't get enough of cats, but cats might have had enough of the internet

According to new research, viewers often dismiss, trivialize or even romanticize signs of cat distress during "play" interactions, raising concerns for cat welfare.

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / What happens to nanoparticles when they enter the bloodstream?

The use of nanoparticles in drug delivery offers key advantages: they can enable targeted drug delivery, protect active ingredients from premature degradation, extend their duration of action in the body and reduce side effects. ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / African grasslands expanded 5 million year earlier than previously thought, molecular fossils suggest

The iconic grassland savannas of Africa are geographically extensive and important for both local fauna and the global climate. But where did they come from, and how will they change in the future? Ongoing warming, rising ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Space travel doesn't affect the strength of heart muscle cells, study finds

It's common to see images of astronauts on the International Space Station exercising, running on special treadmills and pedaling cycles designed for tight quarters.

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Spontaneous magnons synchronize with external signals at room temperature

Signals ride on waves of one kind or another: light, sound, radio. But new carriers are needed to relay information in next-generation devices. Disturbances or waves in magnetic materials called magnons could be an efficient ...

Aug 12, 2026
Phys.org / Pain isn't the point: European viper venoms may have evolved to subdue prey

For many people, the fear of venomous snakes is linked to one thing: pain. Yet new research led by scientists at Bangor University suggests that, for Europe's vipers, at least, causing pain may never have been a driving force ...

Aug 12, 2026