Phys.org news

Phys.org / Ancient viruses serve as gene delivery couriers to help bacteria resist antibiotics

Research has shed important new light on the enemies-turned-allies that allow bacteria to exchange genes, including those linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The insights, which expand our understanding of the major ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Novel technique drills more detail into ice core records

Glaciers can reveal vast archives of information about Earth's environmental past, but deciphering the origins of the matter within them can be a challenge. Now, using a novel technique that enables researchers to directly ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / AI turns plain-language prompts into lab-ready recipes for novel materials

Advances in artificial intelligence promise to help chemical engineers discover complex new materials. These materials could be used for reactions such as turning carbon dioxide into fuel, but technical barriers have limited ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Sex pheromone of a sandgrain-sized insect deciphered

Parasitic wasps of the genus Trichogramma are among the smallest insects in the world—yet they play an important role in natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes as natural antagonists of pest species. Research teams ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Industrial chemical leaks could push ozone layer recovery back by 7 years

The recovery of the ozone layer in Earth's stratosphere could be delayed by several years, according to an international study led by Swiss research institution Empa which included contributions from University of Bristol ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Temperature shifts change plant proteins that power photosynthesis

Humans adjust to changes in temperature by putting on a sweater or taking off layers. Plants adjust to temperature changes, in part, by switching the way they express the protein that performs the critical first step of photosynthesis, ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Simulations generate thousands of cyclone scenarios to predict extreme flooding in Bay of Bengal

Powerful cyclones can push seawater miles inland, threatening densely populated communities and critical infrastructure built along coastal areas. A combination of exposure and complexity makes the Bay of Bengal in Southeast ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Closing the carbon cycle: Unraveling the roles of light and heat in CO₂ photocatalysis

Rising carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from human activities are the largest contributor to global warming. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global CO2 emissions reached an all-time high of 37.8 gigatons ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / New metric identifies at-risk mangroves before they disappear

Scientists from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Centro para la Biodiversidad Marina y la Conservación in Mexico have developed a tool that identifies mangrove patches facing the greatest risk of ...

Apr 16, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists capture superconductivity's 'dancing pairs' for first time, revealing missing pieces in a decades-old theory

For the first time, scientists have directly imaged the quantum process underlying superconductivity, a phenomenon in which paired electrons cause electric current to flow without resistance at sufficiently low temperatures. ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Unearthed mega-structure hints at communal rule in Romania 6,000 years ago

Archaeologists working at the ancient settlement of Stăuceni-"Holm" in northeastern Romania have uncovered a mega-structure measuring 350 square meters dating back about 6,000 years. This is one of the few examples of a massive ...

Apr 15, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient Maya droughts may have been fueled by Earth's own climate swings

Dramatic droughts linked to the decline of the Classic Maya civilization approximately 800 to 1000 CE may not have required any external trigger, according to a new climate modeling study. Instead, they could have emerged ...

Apr 15, 2026