Phys.org news

Phys.org / Novel 'XFELO' laser system produces razor-sharp X-ray light

A team of engineers and scientists has shown for the first time that a hard-X-ray cavity can provide net X-ray gain, with X-ray pulses being circulated between crystal mirrors and amplified in the process, much like happens ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / NASA telescopes spot surprisingly mature cluster in the early universe

Astronomers at The University of Manchester have played a leading role in the discovery of a new cosmic object that is much larger than anything astronomers have seen before in the distant universe. This new discovery captures ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Surprising green ice on Lake Lipno: Cyanobacteria bloom in mid-winter

An unusual natural phenomenon appeared on Lake Lipno in South Bohemia, the Czech Republic, at the end of 2025. Large amounts of accumulated cyanobacteria in the water caused the ice to turn green. The phenomenon was thoroughly ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How a superionic state enables long-term water storage in Earth's interior

The cycling of water within Earth's interior regulates plate tectonics, volcanism, ocean volume, and climate stability, making it central to the planet's long-term evolution and habitability and a key scientific question. ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / New light-based platform sets the stage for future quantum supercomputers

A light has emerged at the end of the tunnel in the long pursuit of developing quantum computers, which are expected to radically reduce the time needed to perform some complex calculations from thousands of years down to ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Overlooked threat: Dams trigger temperature-driven disease in iconic salmonid fish

A new study published in Communications Biology reveals a critical, yet previously overlooked, environmental consequence of man-made dams constructed across rivers and streams. By investigating a key indicator species of ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / 443-million-year-old fossils reveal early vertebrate eyes

Scientists analyzing 443-million-year-old Scottish fossils have uncovered the early evidence that some of the first groups of vertebrates possessed surprisingly advanced eyes and traces of bone, reshaping our understanding ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Subtle rotations in ancient light: Decoding the universe's symmetry

A team of researchers studying the uncertainties associated with a phenomenon known as cosmic birefringence has developed a method to reduce uncertainties in its observational measurements, according to a new study published ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Google unveils AI tool probing mysteries of human genome

Google unveiled an artificial intelligence tool Wednesday that its scientists said would help unravel the mysteries of the human genome—and could one day lead to new treatments for diseases.

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / New radio method uncovers hidden bursts from dwarf stars and hints of exoplanets

An international team including Cornell researcher Jake Turner has developed a novel analysis method capable of uncovering previously undetectable stellar and exoplanetary signals hidden within archival radio-astronomical ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Mineral dust accelerates Greenland ice sheet melt by promoting algae growth

Large-scale melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet is irreversible and happening at a rapid rate, and now a new international study is the first to understand why. A University of Waterloo scientist and a team of international ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Warming weakens natural enemies of insects, new research shows

A warming climate is disrupting the delicate balance of nature. An international team of scientists led by entomologists from the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences has found that higher temperatures significantly ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology