Phys.org news

Phys.org / Rainfall–salinity link sustains prolonged La Niña events, study reveals

La Niña—a climate phenomenon characterized by unusually cool sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean—can persist for multiple years, exerting significant climate impacts worldwide. ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / 2D topological crystalline insulator turns decade-old prediction into reality

Physicists from University of Jyväskylä and Aalto University (Finland) have experimentally realized a two-dimensional topological crystalline insulator. This is a quantum material that has been theoretically predicted for ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Meadows reveal unexpected monotony in insect biodiversity study

According to a new study by the University of Würzburg, Bavarian meadows are the most monotonous insect habitats. Surprisingly, fields and settlements often offer more diversity than grassland.

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Entangled atomic clouds enable more precise quantum measurements

Researchers at the University of Basel and the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel have demonstrated how quantum mechanical entanglement can be used to measure several physical parameters simultaneously with greater precision.

Jan 22, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Tungsten carbide phase control: Engineering a low-cost alternative catalyst for producing sustainable petrochemicals

Important everyday products—from plastics to detergents—are made through chemical reactions that mostly use precious metals such as platinum as catalysts. Scientists have been searching for more sustainable, low-cost ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Cells that are not our own may unlock secrets about our health

During pregnancy, maternal and fetal cells migrate back and forth across the placenta, with fetal cells entering the mother's bloodstream and tissues. They can settle in maternal organs such as the thyroid, liver, lungs, ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / AI model that found 370 exoplanets now digs into TESS data

Scientists have discovered over 6,000 planets that orbit stars other than our sun, known as exoplanets. More than half of these planets were discovered thanks to data from NASA's retired Kepler mission and NASA's current ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Growth chambers could enable reproducible plant-microbe data across continents

Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to study plant microbiomes—communities of microbes living in and around plants—could help improve soil health, boost crop yields, and restore degraded lands. But there's ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Arctic cloud and ice formation affected by Russian river runoff as region studied for first time

Organic matter carried in rivers to the Russian part of the Arctic Ocean may be creating more clouds and keeping the region cooler, a new study has found.

Jan 22, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Accessing water on Mars: Examining the best technologies for future missions

A new study has examined how future human missions to Mars could access one of the planet's most vital resources—water. The "Martian aqua: occurrence of water and appraisal of acquisition technologies" paper, published ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / The hidden microbial communities that shape health in space

Microorganisms live in biofilms—the equivalent of microbial "cities"—everywhere on Earth. These city-like structures protect and house microbial communities and play essential roles in enabling human and plant health ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / 3D-printed surfaces help atoms play ball to improve quantum sensors

Scientists have created 3D printed surfaces featuring intricate textures that can be used to bounce unwanted gas particles away from quantum sensors, allowing useful particles like atoms to be delivered more efficiently, ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Physics