Phys.org news

Dialog / Can we observe Earth-like exoplanets from our own planet?

Finding Earth-like planets orbiting sun-like stars and identifying signs of life such as oxygen or water is a major goal in astronomy and a key interest for the public. Addressing this challenge speaks directly to one of ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Large area MoS₂ reduces energy loss in magnetic memory films

Scientists at the University of Manchester have discovered that placing magnetic films on atomically thin molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) fundamentally changes how they lose energy, a finding that could bring 2D‑material ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Simultaneously decoding the transcriptome, epigenome and 3D genome within a single cell

The origin of many diseases begins at the cellular level and involves multiple molecular interactions. However, previous methods have struggled to accurately observe changes in individual cells. Analyzing average values across ...

10 hours ago
Phys.org / Carbon emissions now more than double the planetary boundary, analysis finds

Earth is not infinite. Pollution beyond certain levels threatens the climate and ecosystems. To prevent this, scientists have proposed planetary boundaries, defining the safe operating limits of the Earth system. A KAIST ...

14 hours ago
Phys.org / New study reveals differences between 'Demon Slayer' bamboo muzzle and actual bamboo

In storytelling, even small visual details can become unforgettable. In the globally popular anime "Demon Slayer," one such detail is the short bamboo muzzle worn by a central character. It looks simple and believable, just ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / A new 'molecular switch' for inborn immunity identified

Innate immune sensors—known as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs)—detect specific molecular components of bacterial or viral intruders. The PRRs forward the signals which results in the production of interferons, which ...

11 hours ago
Phys.org / Meet 'Tous'—an entirely new genus of mammal

Mammals are not especially diverse. Roughly 6,800 mammal species are known to exist, compared with about 8,800 species of amphibian, 11,000 species of bird and 12,500 of reptile. Yet when most people picture biodiversity, ...

13 hours ago
Phys.org / Recreating the forms and sounds of historical musical instruments

What if there were a way to create accurate replicas of ancient and historical instruments that could be played and heard?In late 2024, senior MIT postdoc Benjamin Sabatini wrote MIT Professor Eran Egozy to ask just that, ...

12 hours ago
Phys.org / Light-guided 'optovolution' evolves proteins that switch states on schedule

EPFL researchers have developed a light-based method that can produce proteins that switch states, respond to signals, and even compute, using light and the cell cycle.

12 hours ago
Phys.org / X-raying rocks reveals their carbon-storing capacity

To avoid the worst effects of climate change, many billions of metric tons of industrially generated carbon dioxide will have to be captured and stored away by the end of this century. One place to store such an enormous ...

13 hours ago
Phys.org / The 'Great Texas Freeze' killed thousands of purple martins: Biologists worry recovery could take decades

Thousands of birds, including beloved purple martins, died in "The Great Texas Freeze" of 2021. A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution led by biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, reveals not only ...

18 hours ago
Phys.org / Toward practical laser-driven light sails using photonic crystals

Most space missions rely on chemical rockets for propulsion. Rockets must carry fuel, which increases spacecraft mass and limits their speed and travel distance. For decades, researchers have explored light sails as an alternative. ...

Mar 5, 2026