Phys.org news

Phys.org / Artificial nighttime lighting is suppressing moth activity, new research shows

Moths move significantly less when exposed to artificial nighttime light, new research shows. Moths' attraction to artificial light, such as streetlights, is common knowledge and has been much studied. But, as many people ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Showing real climate wins and friendships helps people join collective climate efforts

What does it take to spur individuals to act as a group with a shared purpose on climate change? According to a new Stanford-led study, the key is to show them how collective actions on climate have made a difference and ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / First radio signals from rare supernova reveal star's final years

Astronomers have captured the first radio waves ever detected from a rare class of exploding star, a discovery that has given them an unprecedented look into the final years of a massive star before its death in a powerful ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Global health impacts of plastics systems set to double by 2040

The adverse health impacts associated with emissions across the full life cycle of plastics could double by 2040 unless immediate action is taken, new research suggests. The study identified health harms at every stage of ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Twisted oxide crystals show how atomic patterns alone can trap or repel electrons

It has been revealed that simply twisting and stacking two layers of oxide crystals can allow the atomic arrangement itself to control the behavior of electrons. Much like the new patterns that emerge when two meshes are ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Raman sensors with push-pull alkyne tags amplify weak signals to track cell chemistry

Seeing chemistry unfold inside living cells is one of the biggest challenges of modern bioimaging. Raman microscopy offers a powerful way to meet this challenge by reading the unique vibrational signatures of molecules. However, ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Reconfigurable robotic fish reveals how stiffness and wave propagation shape swimming performance

How can some fish, like tuna, achieve remarkable speed while others, like eels, excel in maneuverability? A research team from Peking University (PKU) has developed a novel robotic platform that sheds new light on this classic ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A new route to synthesize multiple functionalized carbon nanohoops

The field of nanomaterials is witnessing a transformative shift at the intersection of organic chemistry and molecular engineering. Among the most promising molecular structures are carbon nanohoops, of which [n]cycloparaphenylenes ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Net-casting spiders' adjustable silk stiffness point to tunable fiber design

What makes spider silk so extraordinarily strong and elastic at the same time? This was the focus of recent investigations carried out by researchers from the University of Greifswald, the University of Bonn and the Museum ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / How gut bacteria share antibiotic resistance genes and fuel dangerous hospital infections

Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have uncovered how a high-risk class of genetic vectors can efficiently spread antibiotic resistance within the gut, enabling ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Parasite behind toxoplasmosis hides multiple distinct subtypes inside each cyst

A University of California, Riverside team of scientists has found that Toxoplasma gondii, a common parasite affecting up to one-third of the global population, is far more complex than previously believed. The findings, ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A specific immune system protein may drive antibiotic tolerance

If you have had strep throat or an ear infection, there's a good chance you received amoxicillin or penicillin to effectively kill the troublesome bacteria. These drugs, which belong to a broad group of antibiotics called ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology