Phys.org news

Phys.org / Months trapped together in Antarctic isolation reveal a risk few long missions can afford to ignore

How can people continue to function as a team when they live together in isolation for months on end? A new study led by the University of Zurich shows that loneliness isn't the only challenge posed by extreme environments. ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / New three‑dimensional magnetic structure discovered with laser light

Flashes of femtosecond laser light, lasting just a few trillionths of a second, have made it possible to observe new magnetic structures for the first time. By using light as a remote control, researchers were able to switch ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / Supercharging solar cells: Quantum dot-molecule hybrid states enable near-maximum efficiency

Solar panels have become more efficient over the years, but even the best designs still lose a large fraction of the energy they absorb. Scientists around the world have been searching for ways to capture more energy from ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / Payre fossils from Europe's earliest Neanderthals reveal dynamic evolution shaped by climatic oscillations

The Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) has led the international team behind a new study published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences exploring the complex evolution of Neanderthals ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient anesthetic reveals Ming China's sophisticated medicine

Microscopic analysis of residues on surgical scissors and tweezers from a 1348–1411 CE tomb in Jiangyin, China, finds the first evidence for the controlled application of a highly toxic chemical as anesthetic, highlighting ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / Structural biologists are first in world to visualize key cell protein

University of Cincinnati structural biologists are the first in the world to visualize a key cell protein as part of newly published research from the College of Medicine. The Seegar Lab has become the first to visualize ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / The Southwest's drought is shrinking wildlife's suitable habitat, with predators hit hardest

As people in the United States are coping with historic drought conditions, the country's wildlife is also facing problems because of the extreme aridity. Herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores in the southwestern U.S. have ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / From pore chemistry to carbon capture, new COFs push beyond membrane performance limits

Carbon dioxide (CO2) separation is central to technologies ranging from natural gas purification to hydrogen production and carbon management. One widely used approach relies on thin filtering materials called membranes. ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / How cells identify and silence unwanted jumping genes

Transposons, DNA sequences that can self-replicate and move (jump) throughout the genome, are widespread and can affect cell survival if left unchecked. Cells control these "jumping genes" by silencing them, but little was ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / The 700-million-year history of our blood cells

Almost all animal species—including humans—have blood cells, but between different species our blood tells different stories. The lineage and components of blood cells vary widely, and this variety is a testament to how animals ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / Artists reconstruct extinct Sri Lankan megafauna

For animator and academic Dr. Jason Kennedy, palaeoart isn't just a hobby. Creating 3D images of prehistoric animals sits at the intersection of science and art, combining fossil analysis, comparisons with living species, ...

May 25, 2026
Phys.org / Southeast Asia's changing landscape is fueling a deadly air crisis that costs billions

Changes in land-use across Southeast Asia over the past 15 years are worsening air quality and contributing to thousands of excess deaths each year, according to a study led by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, ...

May 25, 2026