Phys.org news

Phys.org / Social norms and infrastructure could help climate transitions stick

During the COVID-19 pandemic, air travel declined dramatically. Many view the disruption as a potential tipping point for reducing emissions from the aviation sector. However, once travel restrictions were lifted, passenger ...

Oct 19, 2026
Phys.org / Physicists prove a long-suspected quantum speed limit for thermalization

Whether we are waiting for a car windshield to defrost in winter or a warm drink to cool down, how long it takes for an object to settle into a stable, even temperature within its environment (thermal equilibrium) depends ...

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Warming could help make the Indian Ocean a stronger climate buffer

The world's oceans help slow climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, but how much they take up can vary throughout the year. New research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, suggests ...

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Close social bonds help wild jackdaws hold feeding spots but come with waiting costs

Close social relationships are known to contribute to the survival of many animals, including humans. Maintaining social bonds over time, however, can also require effort and sacrifices.

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists discover a way to reverse coral bleaching at record speed

For the first time, scientists have observed bleached corals on the brink of death fully recover through brief contact with healthy clones. Ghostly white corals returned to full health in a laboratory setting within seven ...

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Lion droppings yield previously unknown microbial species, exposing hidden diversity inside Africa's big cats

Scientists know a great deal about how lions hunt, breed and survive, but the microscopic communities living inside them have remained largely unexplored. Now, a study of wild lions in Namibia is beginning to change that, ...

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient Nubian temple faience workshop reveals links between craft production and royal power

Archaeologists have discovered a faience workshop at a major temple complex in the ancient Nubian capital of Napata, showing how the rulers of ancient Kush used specialized craft production to reinforce royal power.

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Early humans in America endured climate chaos—new research

Some 23,000 years ago, during the coldest part of the last ice age, people walked across the muddy margins of an ancient lake in what is now White Sands National Park, New Mexico.

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / New monolithic ion trap opens quantum simulations to more researchers

Some quantum systems are so complex that even the most powerful supercomputers struggle to simulate their behavior. One solution is quantum simulation: building a controllable quantum system in the lab and tuning it to mimic ...

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Hybrid diamond chip strengthens interactions between light and quantum bits

Researchers have developed and demonstrated a new hybrid photonic platform that integrates quantum emitters with photonic devices, providing a way to reliably control the interaction between photons and quantum information ...

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Spatial genomics tool maps long-range DNA interactions while preserving cells' locations within tissues

DNA is not randomly distributed within the nucleus but is packaged with proteins into chromatin, which is precisely folded into complex three-dimensional structures. However, scientists have not fully understood how this ...

Oct 18, 2026
Phys.org / Japan to launch historic round-trip mission to Mars moon

Japanese scientists are readying a mission to Mars' moons to retrieve samples that could help unlock the origins of the solar system and life on Earth, in what aims to be the first round trip to the Martian region.

Oct 18, 2026