Phys.org news

Phys.org / Rare-earth europium substitution allows for more control over CO₂-to-fuel conversion

The electrochemical CO2 (carbon dioxide) reduction reaction takes harmful pollutants and transforms them into valuable products like fuel. However, selectively tailoring various processes in this reaction to successfully ...

Dec 12, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Swedish freshwater bacteria reveal lost genes and unexpected photosynthesis abilities

Bacteria are among the most diverse and ancient forms of life on Earth. Yet, much of what is known about them comes from a small group of species, mostly studied for their roles in human health.

Dec 12, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / 'Hidden' contrails in cirrus clouds contribute to climate warming, research finds

Researchers at the Institute for Meteorology at Leipzig University have, for the first time, determined the climatic impact of contrails that form within natural cirrus clouds. Contrails account for the largest share of aviation's ...

Dec 12, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Hidden patterns of isolation and segregation found in all American cities

A comprehensive analysis of 383 U.S. cities reveals a striking pattern: most have rings of isolation in suburban areas and segregated pockets near the urban core, that are shaped by race, wealth, and proximity to downtown, ...

Dec 12, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Global measures consistently underestimate food insecurity: 1 in 5 who suffer from hunger may go uncounted

International humanitarian aid organizations rely on analyses from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, a global partnership that monitors and classifies the severity of food insecurity to help ...

Dec 12, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Glycitein biosynthetic pathway sheds light on soybean disease resistance

Researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have uncovered the long-elusive biosynthetic pathway of glycitein, a key soybean isoflavonoid. They also reveal ...

Dec 12, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Storm study shows adaptive selection in southeast lizards

How do intermittent events like hurricanes impact natural selection? How do animals adapt to challenging weather? A University of Rhode Island professor has set out to track natural selection in the Anolis lizard over time ...

Dec 12, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Genomic study reveals how vascular plants adapt to aquatic environments

Aquatic plants are specialized evolutionary groups adapted to life in water. They play critical roles as food and medicinal supplies (e.g., lotus root and foxnut) and industrial raw materials (e.g., reeds), as well as in ...

Dec 12, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Earth's atmosphere may help support human life on the moon

The moon's surface may be more than just a dusty, barren landscape. Over billions of years, tiny particles from Earth's atmosphere have landed in the lunar soil, creating a possible source of life-sustaining substances for ...

Dec 11, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / A new species of tiny orange frog discovered in Brazil's cloud forests

Despite the vast numbers of animal species already identified, the natural world is still capable of springing a few surprises. Deep in the cloud forests of the Serra do Quiriri mountain range in the southern Brazilian Atlantic ...

Dec 11, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / All-optical modulation in silicon achieved via an electron avalanche process

Over the past decades, engineers have introduced numerous technologies that rely on light and its underlying characteristics. These include photonic and quantum systems that could advance imaging, communication and information ...

Dec 11, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Astronomers examine nuclear star cluster of nearby galaxy Messier 74

By analyzing the data from the PHANGS-MUSE survey, an international team of astronomers has inspected a nuclear star cluster of the nearby large spiral galaxy Messier 74. The new study presented Dec. 3 on the arXiv pre-print ...

Dec 11, 2025 in Astronomy & Space