Phys.org news

Phys.org / Observing the positronium beam as a quantum matter wave for the first time

One of the discoveries that fundamentally distinguished the emerging field of quantum physics from classical physics was the observation that matter behaves differently at the smallest scales. A key finding was wave-particle ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Some moral acts matter more than others, study shows

Every day, we quietly judge the people around us. Did that co-worker split the credit fairly? Did a neighbor return a lost package? Did someone cut in line or respect the rules?

Jan 19, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Soil ecoacoustics: Researchers call for global effort to listen underground

An international team of researchers has mapped a new way forward to monitor the health of the planet by listening to the soil beneath our feet.

Jan 19, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / First direct evidence of Migdal effect opens new path for dark matter search

In a landmark discovery that bridges nearly a century of theoretical physics, a Chinese research team has successfully captured the first direct evidence of the Migdal effect, a breakthrough with profound implications for ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Ultrafast spectroscopy reveals step-by-step energy flow in germanium semiconductors

Whether in a smartphone or laptop, semiconductors form the basis of modern electronics and accompany us constantly in everyday life. The processes taking place inside these materials are the subject of ongoing research. When ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Ancient CO₂ surge triggered widespread forest fires and erosion 56 million years ago

The climate warmed up almost as quickly 56 million years ago as it is doing now. When a huge amount of CO2 entered the atmosphere in a short period of time, it led to large-scale forest fires and erosion. Mei Nelissen, Ph.D. ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Socio-environmental movements emerge as key global guardians of biodiversity amid rising violence

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that organized civil society and social mobilization are key, yet often unrecognized, agents of global biodiversity conservation. By analyzing ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Deadly to amphibians, a fungal strain emerged in Brazil and spread around the world

The chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), or Bd for short, is considered one of the causes of the worldwide decline in amphibian populations. In recent years, researchers have identified different genetic strains ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Calm seas can drive coral bleaching, research reveals

New research by Monash University and the ARC Center of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century analyzed close to three decades of weather data during the coral bleaching season and identified the prevalence of "doldrum ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / All ears: New study pinpoints what determines ear length in dogs

Ever see a basset hound and find yourself wanting to (gently) grab its long, floppy ears and give them a little waggle? The cute aggression caused by those droopy eared canines is real. And researchers at the University of ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Beta-decay half-life measurements reveal evolution of nuclear shell structure

An international team of researchers has systematically measured the β-decay half-lives of 40 nuclei near calcium-54, providing key experimental data for understanding the structure of extremely neutron-rich nuclei.

Jan 19, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / New structural insights reveal how human respiratory chain complexes assemble

A new study shows how one of the cell's most important energy-producing machines is built. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have mapped late steps in the formation of the human respirasome, a large protein assembly that ...

Jan 19, 2026 in Biology