Phys.org news

Phys.org / Large precolonial villages in the Brazilian Cerrado practiced maize-based polyculture, evidence reveals

For decades, researchers have debated the subsistence strategies of precolonial societies in the Brazilian Cerrado (tropical savanna): Were they hunter-gatherers or intensive maize farmers, and in either case, how did they ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Healthier, more sustainable diets could reshape global agriculture: New study shows by how much

There is a clear need to shift toward healthier and more sustainable food systems. According to the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Report, global adoption of a flexitarian Planetary Health Diet could prevent around 15 million ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Adolescent social media restrictions may reduce some harms while shifting others, warn experts

Amrit Kaur Purba and colleagues argue that social media restrictions operate within a wider system of adolescents, families, schools, governments and commercial actors—and therefore should be treated as complex systems interventions ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Does teleworking reduce carbon emissions? It depends on how you do it

Teleworking—including working from home, coworking or working from other third places—can reduce carbon emissions by eliminating commutes. But if you're not careful, this benefit will be offset by the carbon cost of work-related ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Marsupial newborns get early arms as embryos bypass usual limb-building sequence

Scientists have discovered that marsupial forelimbs (arms) develop much earlier before birth than previously thought, providing new insights into evolutionary innovation and biology.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / The secret to hydrogen's quantum behavior lies in symmetry

As interest in clean hydrogen power grows, so does the need for safe storage and transportation materials. One such material, vanadium, is a leading candidate because it readily absorbs hydrogen and allows it to move through ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Climate impact research needs more real-world data, study suggests

European cities are experimenting with hundreds of climate solutions, from green roofs to electric vehicles, in hopes of adapting to the warmer world around us. But despite a growing body of research on these solutions, we ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Epigenetic mechanism explains how some plants cope with salt stress

Due to artificial irrigation and rising temperatures, the concentration of salts (including sodium chloride, or "table salt") is increasing in soils worldwide. This is not only an environmental problem but also a challenge ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists explain how nucleolus sub-compartments drive ribosome assembly

The nucleolus is a liquid-like cellular organelle where protein factories called ribosomes are assembled. Researchers knew of three distinct compartments within the nucleolus, but how these compartments function to drive ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Medaka males can mate 27 times daily, but sperm performance drops fast

Oryzias latipes, commonly known as medaka, is a small fish measuring about 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 inches) in length that exhibits highly active spawning behavior during the breeding season. Previous research by an Osaka Metropolitan ...

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Seals filter sound through blood-filled tissue to hear underwater, study reveals

The secret of how seals can hear in air and water has been revealed, thanks to pioneering research led by Natural History Museum scientists.

Jul 15, 2026
Phys.org / Desert dust in Europe is increasing with implications for health and solar energy installations

While particulate matter air pollution from human activity in transportation, households and industry is decreasing in Europe, thanks to strict regulations, another source is developing in the opposite direction: desert dust.

Jul 15, 2026