Phys.org news

Phys.org / Parachutes: A vital part of Artemis II's trip home

As the Orion spacecraft hurtles home, friction caused by reentry into Earth's atmosphere will drastically decrease its speed from a potential 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 kilometers per hour).

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Search for dark matter intensifies as leading detector reaches milestone

Deep underground in a Canadian mine, a refrigerator nearly 1,000 times colder than outer space has just reached its target temperature—a milestone that brings scientists one step closer to potentially detecting dark matter, ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / SNIPE bacterial defense system shreds phage DNA before infection can begin

What if the Trojan horse had been pulled to pieces, revealing the ruse and fending off the invasion, just as it entered the gates of Troy? That's an apt description of a newly characterized bacterial defense system that chops ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Rare Roman paint 'recipe' uncovered in Cartagena murals makes smart use of costly cinnabar

Roman painters commissioned at the end of the 1st century to decorate the walls of the Domus of Salvius in present-day Cartagena could hardly have imagined that their technical expertise would still attract attention twenty ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Camera-tagged Adélie penguins caught eating sea snails in East Antarctica

There are many poorly understood links in the food web, often referred to as trophic relationships. Out in East Antarctica, a previously unconfirmed link between sea snails and Adélie penguins might reveal more than meets ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Glaciers rapidly declining, with extreme losses in 2025

Earth's glaciers are continuing to shrink at alarming rates, with new international research revealing that 2025 was among the worst years on record for global ice loss. Published in the Climate Chronicles collection of Nature ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists turn 'mess' into breakthrough: Chaotic design unlocks next-generation optical devices

Researchers from the Monash University School of Physics and Astronomy have flipped a long-held assumption in optics, showing that deliberately introducing controlled disorder into ultra-thin optical devices can dramatically ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Bacteria from bumblebees can produce vitamin B₂ in soya drinks

Researchers at DTU have developed a new method that can reduce the time needed to find new bacteria for fermentation. They have now identified a bacterium that can be used both for acidification and to increase the vitamin ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Underwater architects: Nest-building in cichlids reveals more than hardwired instinct

We associate nests with shelter, warmth, and a safe retreat—and usually picture a bird's nest made out of twigs, grass and feathers. Yet many other animals take advantage of such refuges, with nests being built by a diversity ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Subaru Telescope sheds light on Jupiter Trojan asteroids' color mystery

Observations conducted with the Subaru Telescope and its first-generation wide-field camera, Suprime-Cam, have revealed new insights into the relationship between the color and size of Jupiter Trojan asteroids.

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / Tropical trees are more neighborly than trees further from the equator, study finds

Tropical trees are better neighbors than trees in temperate forests, according to a study published in the journal Nature by researchers from 29 different institutions including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute ...

Apr 10, 2026
Phys.org / AI chips could get faster with 30-nanometer embedded memory that cuts data shuttling

When we watch videos or ask AI questions, enormous amounts of data are constantly moving inside computers. In particular, data centers that support AI must process and transfer vast amounts of data at very high speeds. However, ...

Apr 10, 2026