Phys.org news

Phys.org / Majorana modes withstand disorder in atomic chains, boosting fault-tolerant quantum computing

Quantum computers—systems that process information and perform computations by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics—could solve some tasks faster and more effectively than classical computers. While some studies ...

9 hours ago
Phys.org / Small optical component could change how telescopes view the sun

A new telescope technology—measuring just 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) in diameter—could improve how future space missions study and monitor the sun while simplifying onboard hardware and reducing costs.

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Dead organisms have a lasting ecological legacy, new research shows

Trees, grasses, corals, and oysters are foundational to the structure of an ecosystem while they are alive. But new research led by the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / Extreme coastal flooding surges worldwide as rising seas rewrite 100-year odds

Human-caused sea-level rise has significantly increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide, according to a new study led by a Tulane University researcher. The research, published in the journal Nature Climate ...

2 hours ago
Phys.org / People have an inherent preference for counterclockwise motion, study reveals

Researchers in Spain and Japan tested a broad range of pedestrians in varying group sizes to see whether there were any patterns in their turning behaviors, and what factors influenced them, if any. It turns out that the ...

11 hours ago
Phys.org / JWST reveals dawn-dusk atmosphere split on ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-121 b

Astronomers have revealed distinct differences in atmospheric conditions between the morning and evening transition zones of the ultra-hot gas planet WASP-121 b, which separate day from night, commonly called terminators. ...

11 hours ago
Phys.org / How biodiversity loss could raise borrowing costs and deepen debt risks worldwide

Financial markets are blind to the economic costs of biodiversity loss, leaving several countries at risk of defaulting on debt, according to new research published in Nature. While environmental degradation is recognized ...

3 hours ago
Phys.org / A meteorite impact may have once rained gold on Western Australia

We're used to a lot of different natural things falling out of the sky. These can include snow, rain and sometimes even frogs (yes, really). All of these relate to weather phenomena.

3 hours ago
Phys.org / An underground detector in China unveils its first major findings about mysterious ghost particles

A massive underground detector aimed at understanding the mysterious ghost particles in our universe released its first major results on Wednesday.

3 hours ago
Phys.org / What happens when cartoon villains have an accent? Research reveals impact on kids

When kids watch cartoons, they're absorbing much more than a plot. Thanks to the use of foreign accents in shows, they're also learning a shorthand for moral character, new research from the University of Toronto Mississauga ...

3 hours ago
Phys.org / Is your dog a lefty? New 'Doginburgh' test captures paw preference

Just like left- or right-handed humans, domestic dogs have a preference for their left or right paw, a trait known as laterality. This can vary depending on the tasks they perform, which has made it difficult to create a ...

6 hours ago
Phys.org / One storm pushed world's rarest great ape closer to extinction in Sumatra

Climate change-fueled landslides wiped out nearly one in 10 remaining members of the world's rarest great ape species on Indonesia's Sumatra island, scientists said Wednesday.

3 hours ago