Phys.org news

Phys.org / A 'stemness checkpoint' helps control stem cell identity

A study published in Cell Research advances a central idea in stem cell biology by identifying a checkpoint that controls the identity of many different types of stem cells across developmental stages. For nearly two decades, ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient architecture shows public opinion influenced Maya divine kings

Excavation of a council house at the major Lowland Maya center of Ucanal, Guatemala, reveals how the public gained some influence over Maya politics more than 1,000 years ago. These colonnaded, open halls were likely council ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Robust against noise, geometric-phase swap gates bring stability to quantum operations

Researchers at ETH Zurich have realized particularly stable quantum logical operations with qubits made of neutral atoms. Since these operations, called quantum gates, are based on geometric phases, they are extremely robust ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Student research on coronal holes improves space weather forecasting

Fast solar winds originating from the sun can have direct impacts on Earth—disrupting systems like GPS, aviation, electrical grids, and satellite and radio communications. A new paper by New Mexico State University astronomy ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / High Mountain Asia's melting glaciers may threaten future water security

Glaciers in High Mountain Asia—a region encompassing the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding mountain ranges—are shrinking rapidly, endangering water resources for millions of people, suggests a new study. Using satellite ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Mangrove crab outruns its namesake, expanding its range 200 miles north

A crab named for mangrove forests is leaving them behind. New research from William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS shows that the Atlantic mangrove fiddler crab (Leptuca thayeri) is settling into temperate salt marshes along ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Pollinator-friendly gardens don't have to sacrifice style

For gardeners who love colorful, tidy flower beds, helping pollinators doesn't have to mean going fully wild. A new study from plant biologists at Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden found that some cultivated ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Human-altered mountains drive most fatal landslides worldwide, analysis finds

A new study reveals that most fatal landslides occur in human-transformed environments. Conducted by an international team of researchers from the University of Vienna, Ankara University, Istanbul Technical University, Bursa ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Penguins in remote Patagonia are carrying 'forever chemicals' signals

Penguins living along the Patagonian coast of Argentina can serve as living monitors of their environment by using small, chemical-detecting leg bands, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, and the ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Mussels and mistletoe inspire design for sustainable materials

Taking inspiration from how mussels and mistletoe plants build natural fibers and adhesives, researchers at McGill University have developed a new way to manufacture complex materials that could offer a more environmentally ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / Mathematical model predicts fish freshness in real time

Every day, fish caught in oceans and seas around the world pass through a long journey before reaching supermarkets, restaurants, and home kitchens. Along the way, their freshness steadily declines, often in ways that are ...

Apr 8, 2026
Phys.org / A greener route to citrus-derived therapeutics: What a new bromination method changes

Undergraduate students at Penn State Brandywine developed an environmentally friendly and easy method to synthesize compounds from plant-derived molecules for potential use in therapeutics. Their work, conducted under the ...

Apr 8, 2026