Phys.org news
Phys.org / From flying discs to glowing orbs, these newly opened Pentagon files point somewhere stranger than expected
The Pentagon on Friday released a first batch of secret files documenting reported sightings of unidentified flying objects—some dating back to the 1940s—fanning speculation over whether alien life exists.
Phys.org / Anion swap unlocks sevenfold CO₂ capture in polyionic liquids
A joint research team from Nitto Boseki Co., Ltd. (Nittobo) and Tohoku University has revealed that polyionic liquids (PILs) can achieve high carbon dioxide (CO₂) adsorption when their counter anions are exchanged. This discovery ...
Phys.org / Vast atmospheric waves on Venus are caused by largest known 'hydraulic jump'
The mysterious origin of an impressive cloud disturbance on Venus has now been revealed by a team including the University of Tokyo. Researchers used numerical models to show that an enormous 6,000-kilometer-wide atmospheric ...
Phys.org / Antarctica sea ice collapse driven by triple whammy of climate chaos, scientists find
Antarctica is being ravaged by a triple-whammy of climate chaos that has melted sea ice to record lows, a new study has revealed. For decades, the frozen wilderness at the bottom of the world defied global warming trends, ...
Phys.org / Plants evolved distinct functions for two forms of a fundamental signaling molecule, study shows
The molecule cAMP, which plays essential roles in mammalian cells, is less well understood in plants. In a new Science Advances paper, researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and international ...
Phys.org / Scientists split gentoo penguins into four species, one totally new to science
The four-foot-tall Emperor penguin of Antarctica may be the most iconic member of this unique family of birds, but 17 other species of penguins populate the Southern Hemisphere, many of them confined to isolated islands that ...
Phys.org / Metamorphosis in newts proves costly, with one sex paying a heavier price
Metamorphosis, that profound transformation enabling certain animals to shift between habitats such as from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment, is generally viewed in terms of its benefits. A team of researchers from ...
Phys.org / Why infected stink bugs lift their wings: Hidden parasite escape caught on camera
Male strepsipterans develop inside a host insect during their larval stage and, upon reaching the adult stage, emerge from the host body to begin a free-living phase. In a new study, researchers at University of Tsukuba directly ...
Phys.org / Lab-evolved cyanobacteria survive minute-by-minute light swings, offering clues to hardier crops
Plant scientist Dario Leister and his team are investigating how cyanobacteria adapt to rapidly changing light intensities. This could help optimize photosynthesis in crops. Photosynthesis is one of the most complex processes ...
Phys.org / The first direct observation of laser-created isolated hopfions
Over the past few decades, some physicists worldwide have been investigating unusual particle-like magnetic structures known as topological solitons. These structures could potentially be leveraged to develop new cutting-edge ...
Phys.org / TikTok algorithm showed a pro-Republican bias during the last US presidential election
TikTok's algorithm did not treat Democrats and Republicans equally during the 2024 US presidential election. According to a paper published in Nature, its recommendation system showed a Republican-leaning skew in three states. ...
Phys.org / Plants survived the dinosaur-killing asteroid by duplicating genomes, study suggests
When an asteroid as big as Mount Everest struck Earth 66 million years ago, it wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs and roughly a third of life on the planet. But many plants survived the devastation. In a new study published ...
