Phys.org news

Phys.org / Climate change is driving rising agricultural water use in Central Asia

Even as farmers shift toward less water-intensive crops, climate change is pushing agricultural water consumption upward in Central Asia. A new study by IAMO researchers shows that rising temperatures and atmospheric water ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Where'd you get that frog? Study traces illicit online amphibian trade

Keeping amphibians as pets offers hobbyists an opportunity to connect with the non-human world, often increasing interest in conserving animals in the wild. But there's a dark side to the amphibian trade, according to a study ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / White-nose syndrome puzzle solved: Biological mechanisms behind devastating bat disease revealed

Millions of bats in North America have died from white-nose syndrome, and a new study from the University of Waterloo explores why and how the fungal disease has devastated bat populations on this continent, while it has ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Strawberry guava prevents natural forest generation in Madagascar, project reveals

Rice University biologist Amy Dunham has spent decades studying the mountainous rainforests of Madagascar's Ranomafana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was designated a national park in 1991. In a project ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A new turbulence equation for eddy interactions: AI and physics team up to tackle notoriously difficult question

The currents of the oceans, the roiling surface of the sun, and the clouds of smoke billowing off a forest fire—all are governed by the same laws of physics and give rise to a complex phenomenon known as turbulence. But ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Sea turtles are nesting earlier but producing fewer eggs, 17-year study finds

Climate change is reshaping life on Earth at an unprecedented pace. Across the globe, species are shifting their ranges, altering migration routes and breeding earlier in the year in response to rising temperatures. But while ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Fentanyl makeover: Core structural redesign could lead to safer pain medications

Fentanyl is one of the most effective drugs for managing severe pain, yet it carries substantial risks of addiction and respiratory depression, the dangerous and sometimes fatal slowed breathing. These safety concerns have ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Driven electrolytes are agile and active at the nanoscale

Technologies for energy storage as well as biological systems such as the network of neurons in the brain depend on driven electrolytes that are traveling in an electric field due to their electrical charges. This concept ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Temporal evolution of GRB 240825A afterglow provides insight into origins of optically dark gamma-ray bursts

Researchers from the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have conducted a new study on the temporal evolution of the afterglow from gamma-ray burst GRB 240825A. The study offers new evidence to better ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / How AI is distorting online research, from polls to public policy

Artificial intelligence is increasingly able to simulate human behavior and answer online surveys and political polls, putting the reliability of survey-based research at risk. Consequences can be serious, not only for science ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Noisy classroom? Study suggests engagement matters more than eliminating background noise

How well we pay attention while learning is influenced not only by external distractions like background noise but also by internal factors such as how interesting we find the material, according to a study recently published ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / mRNA fragments reveal a hidden process that protects cells from harmful mutations

Some genetic mutations that are expected to completely stop a gene from working surprisingly cause only mild or even no symptoms. Researchers in previous studies have discovered one reason why: cells can ramp up the activity ...

Feb 12, 2026 in Biology