Phys.org news

Phys.org / Hidden fifth dimension could tune dark matter resonance, new theory proposes

The mysterious substance that binds galaxies together could naturally be "in tune" with a hidden fifth dimension, according to a new University of Sheffield theory aiming to shed light on one of science's biggest enigmas: ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden in Maya wall writings: A named astronomer emerges from 1,200-year-old calculations

Researchers have reconstructed and transcribed a mathematical formula from the site of Xultun, Guatemala, revealing the name of a Maya astronomer for the first time. During the Classic period (250–900 CE), mathematics and ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Hubble discovers first of star cluster's missing black holes

The massive globular star cluster Omega Centauri has puzzled astronomers for decades. It should be filled with black holes left behind by exploding stars, yet evidence for them is scarce. Now, astronomers using archival data ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / The US just approved a giant space mirror to test 'sunlight on demand.' Low Earth orbit is getting weird

A giant mirror to create "sunlight on demand" was just approved by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), despite opposition from astronomers and the public, and real safety concerns.

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / 'Silly sprinklers' put in reverse to further unravel decades-old physics puzzle

Each summer, lawns are marked by a familiar addition: "silly sprinklers," whose loops and spirals spew water in creative ways. While seemingly frivolous in their construction, a team of mathematicians has used their design ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Invasive aoudad pose deadly risk to native bighorn sheep

An invasive species found across West Texas may pose a greater threat to native bighorn sheep than previously understood.

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Zirconium tweak unlocks stronger cast aluminum alloy with ductility boost

Researchers at the Department of Materials Engineering (MatE), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and collaborators have developed a new lightweight cast aluminum alloy that is both exceptionally strong and remarkably ductile, ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Typhoons mix up bacteria and biochemistry

After a typhoon surprised a research cruise, scientists took advantage of the unique sampling opportunity to reveal rapid changes in bacterioplankton communities and biogeochemical cycling.

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden in plain sight: Caribbean reef fish nestle in tube worms, revealing previously undocumented partnership

On Caribbean coral reefs, an unlikely partnership has gone largely unnoticed: Tiny fish regularly nestle within the feathery structures of tube worms. While these sensitive worms typically snap shut at the slightest disturbance, ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Chemists make elusive carbon-bridged sandwich molecule once thought too strained to exist

Progress in chemistry is often gradual, with some of its most important advances taking years—sometimes decades—to unfold. A case in point is the discovery of a novel "ferrocenophane" from the class of compounds known as ...

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Melting icebergs can weaken a massive, far-off ocean current system

Melting and breaking icebergs in the far-off northeastern Pacific Ocean can weaken a massive current system in the Atlantic Ocean, according to a University of California, Davis study published in Nature Communications.

Jul 13, 2026
Phys.org / Distant exoplanets may be hiding water beyond Webb Telescope's reach, study finds

The planets that appear most common in the universe could have a lot of water—but it could be hiding where telescopes can't detect it, according to a new study led by scientists with the University of Chicago.

Jul 13, 2026