Phys.org news

Phys.org / Do you see faces in the clouds? Researchers examine pareidolia

Humans are masters of seeing faces in any old thing—a handbag, TV static, toasted white bread. Scientists want to know why. A few years ago, as the category 5 Hurricane Milton bore down on the Florida coast, the internet ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Turmeric and ginger extract may boost implant bonding and kill 92% bacteria

An extract of turmeric and ginger helps bone implants bond strongly while killing bacteria and cancer cells, according to new research from Washington State University with implications for millions of patients with joint ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / New spider species in the Amazon mimics parasitic fungus

An international research team, including the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), has described a new species of spider from the Ecuadorian Amazon: Taczanowskia waska. The species is characterized ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Early humans in South Africa were quarrying stone as far back as 220,000 years ago

As long as 220,000 years ago—far earlier than previously thought—people quarried rocks for their tools in places they specifically sought out. An international research team led by the University of Tübingen has demonstrated ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / How Jupiter cultivated more large moons than Saturn

The two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, also have the largest satellite systems, or the most moons. At present, Jupiter's reported moon count stands at more than 100 moons, and along with its many ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Experiment indicates new type of mesic nuclei that could reveal how matter acquires mass

Nearly every object we interact with in our lives has a mass, but where does this mass come from? Modern physics says matter acquires its mass from interaction with a physical vacuum—it is not an empty space, but contains ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / More than a pretty picture, star-shaped nanomaterial changes energy storage

When created at the nanoscale, materials can resemble shapes like stars, rods or even pyramids. These particle shapes, also known as the morphologies of a solid, make for more than just interesting images under a microscope—they ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Hot-dry extremes could hit 28% of humanity five times more often by end of century

In their current state, climate policies around the world could leave a significant chunk of the global population exposed to simultaneous extreme heat and drought over five times more often by the end of this century than ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Who got the meat? What 10,000 years of European bones suggest about diet inequality

Access to nutritious food is a fundamental pillar of human success, but such access has been unequal throughout history. In pre-industrial European societies, meat was a highly sought-after food, and access to it was often ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers clarify how cells remove damaged endoplasmic reticulum

The cell's endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a central role in protein synthesis, folding, and calcium (Ca²⁺) storage. When damaged, ER-phagy (self-eating) removes affected ER regions via double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes. ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / This protein helps cancer cells survive treatment—and points to new treatments

Researchers at Umeå University have contributed new insights into how cancer cells protect themselves from cell death. The study provides a deeper understanding of how key proteins interact within the cell and could, in the ...

Apr 7, 2026
Phys.org / Parabolic flight test shows lasers can propel graphene aerogels in microgravity

Lasers could one day steer solar sails and adjust a satellite's position in outer space, thanks to graphene. An experiment on a gravity rollercoaster ride showed how this innovative material has the potential to revolutionize ...

Apr 7, 2026