Phys.org news

Phys.org / Locked in stone for 210 million years, this newly identified crocodile cousin was built to crush larger prey

On a fateful day 210 million years ago, two crocodile cousins about the size of jackals stood side-by-side amid the low ferns of a humid riverbank that would one day become northern New Mexico. One of the crocs, Hesperosuchus ...

May 2, 2026
Phys.org / Bees can detect viruses in food sources, but don't necessarily avoid them

The ability to detect viruses and other harmful pathogens is highly advantageous for animals, as it can guide their behavior and prevent them from illness, and—in severe cases—death. When it comes to species that live in ...

May 2, 2026
Phys.org / Gold digging is not exclusive to women: New study uncovers common attributes

Gold digging is often seen as a female behavior focused on exploiting wealthier partners for material gain, but science suggests this stereotype may be too narrow. Past studies have shown both men and women value resources ...

May 2, 2026
Phys.org / Flooded fields across Midwest spur push for farm-tested solutions

Larry Dallas's farm in Central Illinois's Douglas County is as flat as it gets. That's a good thing for planting straight rows and maneuvering farm equipment in the field, but there's a major downside, too. "Heavier rain ...

May 2, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden plant molecules show up to 25 times stronger activity against Ebola and COVID-19

Scientists at the Université de Montréal's affiliated Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) have identified a new family of natural molecules with strong antiviral activity, notably against the Ebola virus and SARS-CoV-2, ...

May 2, 2026
Phys.org / Why Eurovision stays unpredictable after 70 years of copycats and rule changes

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) has been attracting millions of fans every year since it was launched back in 1956. At the same time, it represents a unique opportunity for research. Almost no other major cultural event ...

May 2, 2026
Phys.org / Saturday Citations: In spaaa-aaace!

We're focusing on space news this week, but we did cover the usual amount of local news down here in Earth's gravity well: A new Tokamak reactor regime sustained stable plasma fusion for one full minute. An anomaly in global ...

May 2, 2026
Phys.org / Disentangling the many factors at play within exposure science

Take a brief walk outside and you're likely to encounter a wide range of things that could influence your health—the sunlight beaming on your face, a plume of exhaust, or even noise from a car driving by. Each exposure carries ...

May 2, 2026
Phys.org / 5th-century Belgian burial with 'scrap metal' may reveal missing link between Roman and Merovingian monetary systems

A study published in the journal Britannia analyzed coins and metal items found in an early 5th-century AD burial in Oudenburg, Belgium. The burial occurred around the same time that base metal coins ceased arriving in northwestern ...

May 1, 2026
Phys.org / DESI-HVS1 is an old hypervelocity star ejected from the galactic center, observations suggest

Chinese astronomers report the discovery of DESI-HVS1, which may be an old metal-poor hypervelocity star of galactic center origin. The finding, based on the data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) and ESA's ...

May 1, 2026
Phys.org / Dinosaurs may have originated 10 million years earlier than fossils show

Dinosaurs are among the most majestic and iconic animals to have ever walked on our planet. While they are now extinct, they are estimated to have inhabited Earth for over 165 million years.

May 1, 2026
Phys.org / A leading journal finds that AI is flooding academic publishing with lower quality work

Artificial intelligence can undoubtedly help scientists with their academic papers by summarizing research and helping to improve writing. However, one downside is that it has led to a wave of poorly written submissions and ...

May 1, 2026