Phys.org news

Phys.org / Sloshing liquefied natural gas in cargo tanks causes higher impact forces than expected

What happens if liquefied natural gas (LNG) hits the wall of the cargo tanks in a ship? New research from the team of physicist Devaraj van der Meer from the University of Twente, published in the Proceedings of the National ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Mighty microscopic fibers are the key to cell division and life itself

Every second, millions of cells in your body divide in two. In the space of an hour, they duplicate their DNA and grow a web of protein fibers around it called a spindle. The spindle extends its many fibers from the chromosomes ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Tapping into risk in America's drinking water

When you turn on the tap, you can typically expect clean, safe water to flow out. But behind that simple action lies a complex system of pipes, pumps, governance, and financials that, for millions of Americans, is at risk ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Swimming in a shared medium makes particles synchronize without touching

Several years ago, scientists discovered that a single microscopic particle could rock back and forth on its own under a steady electric field. The result was curious, but lonely. Now, Northwestern University engineers have ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Shrubs curb carbon emissions in China's largest desert, decades-long experiment shows

An experiment in western China over the past four decades shows that it is possible to tame the expansion of desert lands with greenery, and, in the process, pull excess carbon dioxide out of the sky.

Jan 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Sea levels are rising—but in Greenland, they will fall

Even as global warming causes sea levels to rise worldwide, sea levels around Greenland will likely drop, according to a new paper published in Nature Communications. "The Greenland coastline is going to experience quite ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / A protein 'tape recorder' enables scientists to measure and decode cellular processes at scale and over time

Unraveling the mysteries of how biological organisms function begins with understanding the molecular interactions within and across large cell populations. A revolutionary new tool, developed at the University of Michigan, ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Biology
Dialog / The hidden physics of watersheds: Why some are more sensitive to climate variability than others

Water is everywhere, from the snowpack in the mountains to the tap in our kitchens. But while we often think about rainfall and snow as the main drivers of our water supply, it turns out that something we rarely see has just ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Scientists recover the oldest wooden tools from a site in Greece

Two artifacts found at a lake shore in Greece are the oldest wooden tools to be uncovered so far and date back 430,000 years.

Jan 26, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / From fleeting to stable: Scientists uncover recipe for new carbon dioxide-based energetic materials

When materials are compressed, their atoms are forced into unusual arrangements that do not normally exist under everyday conditions. These configurations are often fleeting: when the pressure is released, the atoms typically ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Collaboration of elementary particles: How teamwork among photon pairs overcomes quantum errors

Some things are easier to achieve if you're not alone. As researchers from the University of Rostock, Germany have shown, this very human insight also applies to the most fundamental building blocks of nature.

Jan 26, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / World not ready for rise in extreme heat, scientists say

Nearly 3.8 billion people could face extreme heat by 2050 and while tropical countries will bear the brunt cooler regions will also need to adapt, scientists said Monday.

Jan 26, 2026 in Earth