Phys.org news

Phys.org / The once-theoretical skyrmion could unlock supercomputing memory

When looking to the future of information technology, researchers have pinpointed a once-theoretical particle-like structure: the skyrmion. Magnetic skyrmions are very stable structures found on micromagnetic materials that ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Using computed tomography to study DNA from ancient humans without destroying samples

Research on ancient DNA is surging, but how can scientists ensure that human remains of irreplaceable significance are preserved? This is the question investigated by an international research team led by the University of ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Smart cable sharing gives quantum computers a big boost

A major obstacle in the development of powerful quantum computers is the growing number of cables required to control a computer as the number of qubits increases. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Glaciers may flow into the ocean more quickly than we think

Models of glacial flow and retreat rely on estimates of glacial ice viscosity, the measure of the ice's resistance to flow. Ice viscosity is dependent on the stress applied to the glacier. Most ice sheet models use a standard ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Simple rules guide how proteins assemble and evolve, study finds

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have identified simple rules that explain how complex protein structures assemble correctly and remain functional over time, despite having many theoretically possible configurations. ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / No great equalizer: Young laborers were hit hardest by early modern plague

A multidisciplinary archaeological team has examined plague burials from a 17th-century monastery turned hospital in Basel, Switzerland, shedding light on how social status impacted plague mortality in Early Modern Europe. ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Mirror-positioning method could make quantum gravity tests possible

In quantum physics, objects can exist in multiple states at the same time—a phenomenon known as quantum superposition, where a particle does not have a single definite value of position or momentum until it is measured. A ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Quantum simulations tackle photon polarization flip, but today's hardware falls short

For the last 80 years, the theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED), which describes all electromagnetic interactions, has been a cornerstone of the standard model, withstanding the scrutiny of countless experiments and agreeing ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Next-generation atomic clock successfully tested at sea

Adelaide University researchers have successfully tested a new type of portable atomic clock at sea for the first time, using technology that could help power the next generation of navigation, communications and scientific ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / Four weeks of 'safe' low-level PFAS exposure in tap water altered embryo development in mice

An Adelaide University study has revealed that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in tap water, at levels currently considered safe, affected the development of embryos, causing irreversible damage that may ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / AI spots hidden behavior patterns in self-organizing bacteria

Life moves in mysterious ways—and perhaps especially so for organisms that undergo dramatic shifts in levels of self-organization, such as Myxococcus xanthus. A custom-built artificial intelligence system developed by Rice ...

Apr 14, 2026
Phys.org / A tiny predator from ancient Spain just doubled the weasel family's evolutionary timeline

Weasels are small carnivores with a long body and short legs. They also have a stout skull and sharp teeth. These creatures, along with ferrets and minks, make up the Mustelinae subfamily. Until now, researchers believed ...

Apr 14, 2026