Phys.org news

Phys.org / Small quantum system outperforms large classical networks in real-world forecasting

Can a handful of atoms outperform a much larger digital neural network on a real-world task? The answer may be yes. In a study published in Physical Review Letters, a team led by Prof. Peng Xinhua and Assoc. Prof. Li Zhaokai ...

8 hours ago
Phys.org / 3D root model captures mangroves' capacity to protect coastal communities from storm waves

Mangrove forests are natural wonders that protect coastal areas, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. They are able to dissipate wave energy and limit flooding, which can even mitigate tsunamis and coastal inundations ...

8 hours ago
Phys.org / Seed banks may complicate gene drives aimed at controlling weeds

Gene drives—a genetic engineering approach that quickly spreads specific genetic changes throughout a population, whether to kill it off or add a new trait—may have potential for controlling weeds. But so far, gene drives ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / Domino polymerization provides a new route to versatile, degradable plastics

Plastic, once ingenious for its durability and versatility, has become a global environmental issue that is affecting every aspect of life. This, in turn, is fueling the development of degradable polymers as alternative solutions. ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Nanotube injector transfers cytoplasmic contents and organelles between living cells safely

Cells are not isolated units; they continuously exchange proteins, genetic material, and even entire organelles with their neighbors. Intercellular transfer influences how tissues develop, respond to stress, and repair damage. ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / Bumblebees can perceive rhythm, despite their brains being the size of a sesame seed

Humans are creatures of rhythms. As far as we know, humans have always sung and always danced. We can recognize a song by its rhythm alone, regardless of whether it is played fast or slow.

11 hours ago
Phys.org / Bacterial enzyme uses a donut-shaped ring to shred tough collagen, study reveals

Collagen is an important protein that helps build the tissues of humans and animals. It is very strong because it is made of three protein strands twisted tightly together like a rope. Because of this sturdy structure, ordinary ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Real-time nanoscale measurements map reduction and oxidation in solar-fuel reactions

Solar-power photocatalysis—turning sunlight into energy—holds promise for sustainable and cost-efficient energy and chemical production. Advancing the technology, though, has been hindered by a lack of understanding of exactly ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Artemis II astronauts rocket toward the moon after spending a day around Earth

NASA's Artemis II astronauts fired their engines and blazed toward the moon Thursday night, breaking free of the chains that have trapped humanity in shallow laps around Earth in the decades since Apollo.

15 hours ago
Phys.org / Cosmologists collaborate to sharpen measurements of the Hubble constant

Drawing together leading experts from across the field, an international collaboration of cosmologists has created a unified approach for measuring the value of the Hubble constant. Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Ytterbium atomic clock could open a new window on fundamental physics

For the first time, an international team of physicists has successfully harnessed a rare orbital transition in atoms of ytterbium to create a new type of atomic clock that is both highly precise and extremely sensitive to ...

Apr 2, 2026
Phys.org / Gravity from positivity: Single massive spin-3/2 particle makes gravity logically inevitable, study claims

Researchers at IPhT (CEA, CNRS) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have shown that gravity—and with it, supersymmetry—emerge as logical necessities whenever a massive spin-3/2 particle exists in nature. Two principles ...

Apr 2, 2026