Phys.org news

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. ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / DNA design unlocks nanometer-scale catalyst control for cleaner hydrogen production

The fixed idea that DNA is only a molecule that stores genetic information is being challenged. KAIST researchers have developed a technology that controls the chemical environment around catalysts at the nanometer scale ...

Jun 8, 2026
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 ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Neutron star merger simulations gain new precision with AI-driven r-process heating

Using a novel simulation model based on machine learning, an international research team at GSI/FAIR has succeeded in gaining a deeper understanding of element formation in stellar events such as neutron star mergers. For ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Cloud-tested quantum noise model predicts superconducting qubit errors with sevenfold better accuracy

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have developed a practical, comprehensive noise-modeling framework for a popular class of ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / How plants survive constant DNA damage: Newly identified repair protein protects growth-critical stem cells

Similar to the way DNA damage can contribute to human diseases such as cancer, it can also disrupt growth, development and survival in plants. Every day, plants endure environmental stresses such as sunlight, radiation, drought ...

Jun 8, 2026
Dialog / A 170 km journey by a freshwater stingray challenges long-held conservation assumptions

Most sharks and rays inhabit the oceans, but a small proportion thrive in freshwater. Approximately 4% to 5% of all shark and ray species live in tropical and subtropical rivers around the world. Two main ecological strategies ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Rocket launches and reentries harm Earth's ozone layer

The space industry is surging. In coming years, nearly 10,000 spacecraft are slated to launch into low-Earth orbit for a variety of purposes, such as global surveillance, space tourism, and satellite "megaconstellations" ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Aerosols may warm or cool the climate depending on timing, new study finds

A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem challenges a long-held assumption in climate science by showing that aerosols—tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere—can either warm or cool the climate, depending on ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Chemists unlock first total synthesis of rare plant alkaloid tied to anticancer activity

Plants are undeniably one of nature's most promising sources of new medicines, with monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) being a great example. Some intricate compounds are built from multiple-linked chemical units that ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Van der Waals forces can play unexpected role in thin film properties

Researchers have demonstrated the ability to use van der Waals forces to tune the physical and electronic properties of ferroelectric thin films. The work opens the door to new techniques for engineering materials for use ...

Jun 8, 2026
Phys.org / Brazilian breadbasket's aquifers are falling, and new satellite maps show where water stress is growing

A collaboration of scientists from NASA and Brazilian research institutions has produced a detailed picture of groundwater change across Brazil. The images reveal significant declines in some of the aquifers that are critical ...

Jun 8, 2026