Phys.org news

Phys.org / Einstein Probe catches rare X-ray flash from an exploding star

Astronomers have linked an X-ray flash discovered by the Einstein Probe to a known type of supernova with unusual features that point to the birth of an ultra-dense, rapidly spinning magnetar. The paper outlining this finding ...

Aug 16, 2026
Phys.org / Active particles could make stable glasses stronger without catastrophic brittle failure

The strongest glasses have an Achilles' heel that causes them to fail catastrophically when pushed past their limit. They do not bend or stretch, as all damage concentrates into a single plane and the material fails in an ...

Aug 16, 2026
Phys.org / Early-universe plasma may have stopped dark photons from heating cosmos

A new paper published in Physical Review Letters reveals that a leading dark matter candidate—the hypothetical "dark photon"—would not have heated the early universe as previously thought. The finding opens a vast region ...

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / Shackled men in 2,600-year-old Greek mass graves were likely locals, archaeologists find

In 2016, archaeologists working at the Phaleron Burial Ground, part of the ancient Attica region, uncovered an astonishing sight: three mass graves dating to the 7th and 6th centuries BCE containing the skeletons of 79 adult ...

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / Tungsten may suffer more radiation damage in fusion reactors than expected

Fusion reactors, devices that generate energy by fusing light atomic nuclei at extremely high temperatures, could contribute to ongoing efforts aimed at producing electricity more sustainably. The extreme environment inside ...

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / Topical clove oil for canine sarcoptic mange promises faster, plant-based treatment

Canine sarcoptic mange (scabies) is a skin condition in which microscopic mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) infest dogs' skin. The condition is contagious and zoonotic and can be difficult to detect. If left untreated, it can cause ...

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / Neptune's tiny moons tell the story of Triton's destructive capture

Neptune's moon and ring system stand out among the giant planets because of the strange imbalance between its one very large moon and its many tiny moons. Its largest moon, Triton, makes up more than 99% of the mass of all ...

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / After commercial whaling nearly erased them, blue and fin whales are slowly reclaiming the southeast Atlantic

More than 40 years after the end of commercial whaling, new research reveals a recent increase in sightings of the world's two largest whale species in the southeastern Atlantic. The findings, published in the African Journal ...

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / Nonrepeating photonic crystal may enable more tunable, reliable semiconductor lasers

Over the past two decades, photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) have shown promise as a type of advanced semiconductor laser useful in defense- and aerospace-related applications. Typically, these devices are ...

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / Four more belugas arrive at Chicago aquarium from shuttered Canadian theme park

Four more belugas have arrived at a Chicago aquarium as part of a plan to move Canada's last remaining captive whales from a shuttered theme park to aquariums in the United States and Spain.

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / Black-box technologies could undermine confidence in scientific findings

Scientists are increasingly relying on powerful data sources and tools that they often cannot fully understand, inspect or verify, according to a new study.

Aug 15, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists simulating ant swarms find a 'first mover' can set the colony in motion

In ant colonies, a single ant can be the catalyst for a wave of mob activity, launching brief bursts of coordinated movement involving hundreds or even thousands of swarming workers, according to new simulations from New ...

Aug 15, 2026