Phys.org news

Phys.org / Low-temperature greenhouse gas conversion: Direct current reveals charge-driven mechanism

Catalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM) offers a promising strategy for the sustainable utilization of greenhouse gases, CH4 and CO2. However, its practical application has long been hampered by severe catalyst deactivation ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Model reveals tradeoffs that limit harm caused by malaria parasite

Why do parasites harm their hosts? That's a question evolutionary biologists ask as they try to predict how a parasite might evolve and perhaps become more lethal in response to control methods, such as vaccines or drug treatments.

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / How the ocean's most abundant bacteria diversify into ecologically distinct groups

A study led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has revealed critical new details about one of the ocean's most abundant life forms—SAR11 marine bacteria. Understanding ...

Dec 17, 2025 in Biology
Phys.org / Possible 'superkilonova' exploded not once but twice

When the most massive stars reach the ends of their lives, they blow up in spectacular supernova explosions, which seed the universe with heavy elements such as carbon and iron. Another type of explosion—the kilonova—occurs ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / What's powering these mysterious, bright blue cosmic flashes? Astronomers find a clue

Among the more puzzling cosmic phenomena discovered over the past few decades are brief and very bright flashes of blue and ultraviolet light that gradually fade away, leaving behind faint X-ray and radio emissions. With ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Pahon Cave provides a look into 5,000 years of surprisingly stable Stone Age tool use

The Pahon Cave in Gabon offers archaeologists a well-preserved look into the Late Stone Age time period in central Africa, thanks to the stratified layers of guano-based sediment. This is in contrast with much of the surrounding ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / A universal law could explain how large trades change stock prices

Financial markets are often seen as chaotic and unpredictable. Every day, traders around the world buy shares and sell assets in a whirlwind of activity. It looks like a system of total randomness—but is it really?

Dec 16, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / 8.2 ka event triggered social transformation, not destruction, at China's Jiahu site

In a recent study, Dr. Yunchen Tan and colleagues examined the response of the North China Plain settlement of Jiahu to the abrupt climatic 8.2 ka event. They found that Jiahu not only survived but also demonstrated remarkable ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / A new global map uses a fleet of satellites to catch methane leaks from the energy sector

When it comes to global warming and greenhouse gases, methane is one of the bad guys. It's the second most important contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide. However, quantifying the exact amount being released ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Rare brown dwarf discovered orbiting ancient star

Astronomers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) and elsewhere report the discovery of a new brown dwarf about 60 times more massive than Jupiter. The newfound substellar object, designated TOI-7019 ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / A new family of barium-based crystals reveals rules for structural changes

The ultimate goal of materials scientists is to design and create materials with precise structures and tailored properties. Predictive technologies have advanced significantly with the rise of AI, yet the delicate nature ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Scientists identify first non-coding gene that controls cell size

What keeps our cells the right size? Scientists have long puzzled over this fundamental question, since cells that are too large or too small are linked to many diseases. Until now, the genetic basis behind cell size has ...

Dec 16, 2025 in Biology