Phys.org news

Phys.org / New ABF crystal delivers high-performance vacuum ultraviolet nonlinear optical conversion

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, 100–200 nm) light sources are indispensable for advanced spectroscopy, quantum research, and semiconductor lithography. Although second harmonic generation (SHG) using nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Strength-in-numbers X-ray technique can map previously unattainable atomic structures

For many decades, the method to obtain atomic-level descriptions of chemical compounds and materials—be it a drug, a catalyst, or a commodity chemical—has been X-ray crystallography. This method has a known weakness: ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Extracellular vesicles manage to slip gene edits into Pneumocystis fungi

Pneumocystis is an unwieldy genus of fungal pathogens that cause severe pneumonia, particularly in immunocompromised people like those with HIV/AIDs or who have received organ transplants. However, the mechanisms by which ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Land use acts as a 'silent amplifier' of extreme heat, AI-driven study reveals

A new study using Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) has revealed land-use change—particularly deforestation and unplanned agricultural expansion—is dramatically intensifying heat waves across Africa, with findings ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Cell surface glycoRNA clusters found to fine-tune growth factor signaling

The recent discovery of glycoRNAs on the cell surface upended the world of cell biology. These glycoRNAs were found to form highly organized clusters with cell surface RNA binding proteins (csRBPs), but their purpose remained ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Cells' built-in capacity limit for copying DNA could impact cancer treatment

For almost 60 years, scientists have tried to understand why DNA doesn't replicate wildly and uncontrollably every time a cell divides, which happens constantly. Without this process, we would die. These essential, ongoing ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Atlantic nurse sharks show faster growth patterns in Biscayne Bay than nearby Bimini, Bahamas

A new study from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science shows that juvenile Atlantic nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) grow more rapidly as juveniles and reach smaller maximum ...

Jan 28, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Cuttlefish use polarized light to create a dramatic mating display invisible to humans

Many organisms leverage showy colors for attracting mates. Because color is a property of light (determined by its wavelength), it is easy for humans to see how these colors are used in animal courting rituals. Less obvious ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Highly stable Cu₄₅ superatom could transform carbon recycling

After years of trying, scientists have finally created a stable superatom of copper, a long-sought-after chemical breakthrough that could revolutionize how we deal with carbon emissions.

Jan 27, 2026 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Amazon Leo satellites exceed brightness limits, study finds

Seeing a satellite zip across the night sky can be a fascinating sight. However, what may be spectacular for people on the ground is becoming a major problem for astronomers. A new study published on the arXiv preprint server ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / The Great Mongolian Road: Japanese Imperial Army maps reveal first detailed documentation

In a study published in the Journal of Historical Geography, researchers Dr. Chris McCarthy and his colleagues have documented, for the first time, the Great Mongolian Road, a major yet understudied east-west caravan route ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / People are swayed by AI-generated videos even when they know they're fake, study shows

Generative deep learning models are artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can create texts, images, audio files, and videos for specific purposes, following instructions provided by human users. Over the past few years, ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Other Sciences