Phys.org news

Phys.org / Non-monogamy may reduce jealousy overall, but feeling less desirable can still strain relationships

Comparing yourself with your partner is more common than you'd think. Psychologists even have a term for it: mate value discrepancy (MVD), which is the gap between how attractive, smart or successful each partner feels compared ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Biofilm clue opens route to anti-infection treatments of the future

A multidisciplinary study has uncovered a critical component in the formation of biofilms, the complex structures used by bacteria to colonize surfaces. The research may have implications for future infection treatments, ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Bringing complex field physics to the tabletop: A photonic stage for non-Abelian gauge fields

For most theories in physics, the order of operations has little impact on the result. When setting a dial to a certain position, for example, it doesn't matter whether it's turned clockwise or counterclockwise—the result ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / In seconds, fiber optic cables detect earthquake size

Scientists have discovered a new way to determine how big an earthquake may become just seconds after it begins. In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Cal ...

1 hour ago
Phys.org / Rare-earth ions could enable telecom-ready control of interacting qubits

Quantum technologies are devices and systems that exploit the laws of quantum mechanics and could perform tasks that are difficult or impossible to tackle using their classical counterparts. These technologies process and ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / New twist on the Einstein problem reveals unexpected physics

A shape that captured worldwide attention for solving a decades-old mathematical puzzle has returned to the spotlight. While the shape's properties allowed it to solve previous puzzles, little is known about its other associated ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / Shipwreck cargo reveals surprising global trade secrets of the 1600s

Using cargo recovered from one of Australia's most infamous shipwrecks, new Curtin University-led research has revealed how surprisingly sophisticated global supply chains helped source and transport construction materials ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / First 3D map reveals hidden thermal structure of nearby interstellar medium

Astronomers have built the first three-dimensional map of gas temperature in the space surrounding our solar system, revealing a far messier and more dynamic picture than current models predict. The study was submitted to ...

4 hours ago
Phys.org / Antarctic storms are becoming more frequent and intense, affecting sea ice

Winters in Antarctica's Ross Sea have become stormier in recent decades, affecting sea-ice conditions and field operations, new University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka research shows.

2 hours ago
Phys.org / 6.5 million Americans live in landslide hazard zones, study finds

New research has found that 6.5 million Americans live in homes on or near landslide-prone slopes. With a single map, local governments and residents can now see landslide hazard hotspots at the regional, state and county ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / A successful, sustainable catalyst for ethanol dehydrogenation

Ethanol is an alcohol used in a vast number of industrial and household applications. When dehydrogenated—in this case, stripped of some of its hydrogen atoms—it yields another important compound: acetaldehyde, which is used ...

5 hours ago
Phys.org / Gobi fossil reveals 6-inch 'Cretaceous rabbit' belonged to a different mammal branch

A remarkably preserved fossil from Mongolia's Gobi Desert is reshaping scientists' understanding of mammal evolution during the age of dinosaurs.

3 hours ago