Phys.org news

Phys.org / Personalized freedom can increase cooperation, trust and fairness

A new setup for social games suggests that when people are given the freedom to tailor their actions to different people in their networks, they become significantly more cooperative, trusting and fair.

Nov 11, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / AI rivals humans in political persuasion

New research reveals that people find AI-delivered political arguments convincing. This could help bridge political divides—or fuel polarization.

Nov 11, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Harnessing algae for a greener way to create functional gold nanoparticles

Researchers from Japan have pioneered a novel, sustainable method for synthesizing functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using microalgae. The work is published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

Nov 11, 2025 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Widely cited irrigation stat for food security found to lack solid evidence

A globally cited statistic about the role of irrigation for food security that has formed foundational evidence for policy-making and scientific research is used on a hearsay basis and is based on weak evidence, according ...

Nov 11, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Cancerous tumors less common in rapidly-evolving animals, study finds

Species that evolved rapidly in body size—such as the greater kudu and bighorn sheep—have fewer cancerous tumors, but the same is not true for non-cancerous tumors, according to new research.

Nov 11, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / AlphaSync database keeps protein structure prediction resource up to date

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have created a database that provides updated predicted structures on a regular basis, ensuring scientists can work with the most current information.

Nov 11, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Forever chemicals affect the genes of unhatched ducklings

The EU is considering introducing a blanket ban on the man-made chemicals called PFAS because of the risks they pose. Researchers have now found that these substances can even alter the genes of birds before they hatch.

Nov 11, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / 'Impossible' merger of two massive black holes explained

In 2023, astronomers detected a huge collision. Two unprecedentedly massive black holes had crashed an estimated 7 billion light-years away. The enormous masses and extreme spins of the black holes puzzled astronomers. Black ...

Nov 10, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Could mass arise without the Higgs boson?

The geometry of space, where physical laws unfold, may also hold answers to some of the deepest questions in fundamental physics. The very structure of spacetime might underlie every interaction in nature.

Nov 10, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / New AI framework can uncover space physics equations in raw data

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly artificial neural networks, have proved to be highly promising tools for uncovering patterns in large amounts of data that would otherwise be difficult to detect. Over the ...

Nov 10, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / The time 'rondeau' crystal: Scientists observe a new form of temporal order

In a new study published in Nature Physics, researchers achieved the first experimental observation of a time rondeau crystal—a novel phase of matter where long-range temporal order coexists with short-time disorder.

Nov 10, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Neanderthal DNA helps explain how faces form

Every human face is unique, allowing us to distinguish between individuals. We know little about how facial features are encoded in our DNA, but we may be able to learn more about how our faces develop by looking at our ancient ...

Nov 10, 2025 in Biology