Phys.org news
Phys.org / Physicists create new family of Schrödinger-cat states
Quantum mechanics, unlike classical physics, allows objects to exist in more than one state at the same time. This idea is often illustrated by Schrödinger's cat, imagined as being both alive and dead until it is observed. ...
Phys.org / Hidden geometry explains why kernel methods separate complex data so well
Are two sets of data genuinely different, or is it because of randomness? This question, known as the two-sample testing problem, becomes notoriously difficult in modern datasets, because they are often high-dimensional, ...
Phys.org / Astronomers discover the earliest known flickering quasar
A supermassive black hole lies at the heart of every galaxy, including the Milky Way. When a black hole is active, it pulls material in as a whirlpool of high-temperature gas and dust. As this cosmic material piles up and ...
Phys.org / Superheated magma may explain why similar volcanoes erupt in very different ways
Scientists have shed light on a thermal process in magma that may help explain why similar volcanic systems can produce very different eruptive behaviors.
Phys.org / Ancient hominins selected basalt sources for specific tools nearly 800,000 years ago, study reveals
A new study finds that ancient hominins nearly 800,000 years ago deliberately selected specific basalt sources for different stages of tool production rather than simply using whatever stone was available nearby. By tracing ...
Phys.org / How Artemis II livestreamed hi-def videos and images from the moon to Earth
This April, humanity had front-row seats to space as the Artemis II Orion spacecraft transmitted crystal-clear footage of its historic journey around the moon from more than 250,000 miles (about 402,000 kilometers) back to ...
Phys.org / River wildlife moves freely once dams are removed, but so too can invasive species
Almost a quarter of all freshwater species are threatened with extinction. The removal of human-made barriers from rivers, such as dams and weirs, is a popular way to restore water flow and sediment transport to its natural ...
Phys.org / Antibiotics drive resistance in waterways—even after they break down
Antibiotics continue to drive resistance in bacteria, even after they are broken down in wastewater treatment plants and discharged into rivers and seas, new research published on World Oceans Day has shown for the first ...
Phys.org / Bacteria can learn and form memories without a brain
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have shown that bacteria can learn from past experiences, store memories across generations and adapt their behavior to changing environments, all without a brain or nervous system. ...
Phys.org / Medicinal plants yield carbon nanoparticles that glow red and flag toxic metals
What do iron, lead and nickel have in common? These heavy metals are an indispensable part of many industries. However, they also share a dark reality: They are serious environmental and public health threats. Every day, ...
Phys.org / Headless skeletons offer new insights into farming societies 7,000 years ago
Dozens of human skeletons, lying apparently randomly on and next to each other, with their skulls missing, present a terrifying sight at first glance. Since 2022, this is what researchers have been excavating in a 7,000-year-old ...
Phys.org / X-ray scans uncover Nazi symbols hidden beneath postwar painting
Erich Mercker (1891–1973), a painter from Munich, was quite successful in his day. Between 1933 and 1945, he painted works containing Nazi symbolism, including "Die Stätte des 9. November," which depicts the Feldherrnhalle ...
