Phys.org news
Phys.org / The structure of water: Entropy determines whether ions stick
Water molecules do not simply swirl around in complete disorder; they can form certain preferred structures. This scientific fact is often presented in entirely unscientific ways. For example, when people speak of an alleged ...
Phys.org / Prototype sets record for optical quantum information technology
Chinese scientists have developed a programmable quantum computing prototype called Jiuzhang 4.0 that has set a new world record for optical quantum information technology, according to a study published May 13 in the journal ...
Phys.org / Mars reveals first Zwan-Wolf effect deep in its atmosphere during a solar storm
In December 2023, scientists looking at Mars data stumbled across something completely unexpected—observations of an atmospheric effect never before seen in the Red Planet's atmosphere. Using instruments aboard NASA's MAVEN ...
Phys.org / From wetland sediment, scientists uncover centuries of climate chaos—and human resilience
The climate of the ancient Eastern Mediterranean was far more turbulent than previously thought—and a new study suggests that people adapted anyway. An international team of scientists, spearheaded by UC San Diego's Center ...
Phys.org / How much worse could western wildfires get? New modeling changes projections
Across the western United States, wildfires are increasing in size and intensity. As the climate continues to warm, more extreme wildfires will reshape landscapes and pose a growing risk to human health and natural ecosystems ...
Phys.org / Eyes that photosynthesize: Scientists plant a cure for dry eye disease
What if eyes could use light to heal themselves? Drawing inspiration from how plants harness sunlight, researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) are pioneering a revolutionary treatment for dry eye disease. ...
Phys.org / Learning physics can derail some students: New research shows the best way to keep them on track
For many undergraduate students, exploring the complexities of physics for the first time, from wading through advanced mathematics, to absorbing information in a large lecture format, can be a daunting endeavor—one that ...
Phys.org / Ancient burial practices emerge from Laos' mysterious Plain of Jars
Hundreds of stone jars, some weighing several tons, are scattered across the remote uplands of northern Laos. Despite being researched for nearly a century, their purpose remains uncertain. "Archaeologists generally agree ...
Phys.org / How wasted infrared light could boost solar panels, night vision and 3D printing
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have developed a nanoscale device that converts low-energy infrared and red light into higher-energy visible light, a breakthrough that could eventually improve solar panels, sensing technologies, ...
Phys.org / Bilayer antiferromagnet reveals photocurrent that flips with magnetic state
In recent years, atomically thin materials—crystals only a few atoms thick—have attracted growing attention because they can exhibit physical properties that do not appear in conventional bulk materials. Among them, atomically ...
Phys.org / This single mother must learn quickly—or her colony won't survive
Being a single mother of 20 is no joke, especially if the survival of a whole species depends on it. A queen bumblebee faces this very challenge when she lays her first eggs in the spring: She is utterly alone, with no worker ...
Phys.org / Careful crystallization unlocks well-ordered perovskite layers for transistors
Perovskites are a class of materials with a unique crystal structure that suits applications such as fabricating solar cells, light-emitting diodes and transistors. However, molecules in thin layers often cannot arrange themselves ...
