Phys.org news

Phys.org / Programmable terahertz vortices enable dual electric and magnetic skyrmion modes

Researchers have created an optical device that can generate both electric and magnetic vortex-ring-like light patterns. These structured light vortices, known as skyrmions, are highly stable and resistant to disturbances, ...

1 hour ago in Physics
Phys.org / Ancient DNA reveals 12,000-year-old case of rare genetic disease

Researchers led by the University of Vienna and Liège University Hospital Center have identified genetic variants associated with a rare inherited growth disorder in two prehistoric individuals who lived more than 12,000 ...

2 hours ago in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Self-powered composite material detects its own cracks

A new multifunctional composite made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) and piezoelectric materials can use vibrations to self-detect tiny cracks. This material could be used in the aerospace, automotive, and construction ...

2 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Unusual RNA caps reveal previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription

Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ...

5 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Superfluids are supposed to flow indefinitely. Physicists just watched one stop moving

Ordinary matter, when cooled, transitions from a gas into a liquid. Cool it further still, and it freezes into a solid. Quantum matter, however, can behave very differently. In the early 20th century, researchers discovered ...

22 hours ago in Physics
Phys.org / Webb pushes boundaries of observable universe closer to Big Bang

The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has topped itself once again, delivering on its promise to push the boundaries of the observable universe closer to cosmic dawn with the confirmation of a bright galaxy that existed ...

22 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Deforestation is drying out the Amazon rainforest faster than previously thought

Deforestation is having a more devastating effect on the Amazon rainforest than earlier data suggested. While cutting down large swaths of trees destroys vital habitats, it also harms the region's ability to generate its ...

21 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / Beyond polymers: New state-of-the-art 3D micro and nanofabrication technique overcomes material limitations

Building things so small that they are smaller than the width of a human hair was previously achieved by using a method called two-photon polymerization, also known as 2PP—today's state-of-the-art in 3D micro- and nanofabrication. ...

19 hours ago in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Just the smell of lynx can reduce deer browsing damage in recovering forests

New research shows that the mere smell of predators is enough to change deer behavior and limit browsing damage to tree saplings. The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, offer a potential tool for forest ...

16 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / A lost world: Ancient cave reveals million-year-old wildlife

Australian and New Zealand scientists have unearthed the remains of ancient wildlife in a cave near Waitomo on Aotearoa's North Island, the first time a large number of million-year-old fossils have been found—including ...

20 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Surprising green ice on Lake Lipno: Cyanobacteria bloom in mid-winter

An unusual natural phenomenon appeared on Lake Lipno in South Bohemia, the Czech Republic, at the end of 2025. Large amounts of accumulated cyanobacteria in the water caused the ice to turn green. The phenomenon was thoroughly ...

17 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / Asteroid that wiped out dinosaurs had limited impact on sharks and rays, study shows

A new study using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) has revealed that the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago caused only a modest decline in shark and ray species. The findings, published ...

18 hours ago in Biology