Phys.org news

Phys.org / Space junk falls to Earth faster when sunspots peak, reshaping satellite collision forecasts

Solar emissions exert 'drag' on space junk orbiting Earth. From historical measurements across a period of 36 years, researchers have now shown that space junk begins to fall down much faster once the sun's activity across ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Antimalarial drug hunt uncovers enzyme target with potent new inhibitors

Researchers from the Universities of Bath and Leeds (UK) have made a significant advance in the fight against malaria by uncovering a promising new potential target for drug discovery. The findings, published in the Journal ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Sound waves create mist that can act like 'plant sunscreen'

RMIT University researchers have developed a new way to coat fragile surfaces, including living plant leaves, using high‑frequency sound waves to create a fine mist that can act like a plant sunscreen.

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Twisting atom-thin materials reveals new way to save computing energy

A recent study shows a new and potentially more energy-efficient way for information to be transmitted inside electronic systems, including computers and phones—without relying on electric currents or external magnetic fields.

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Clean energy's nickel rush is heading straight for some of Earth's richest ecosystems

Meeting future nickel demand for stainless steel and clean energy technologies will require tough decisions with potential environmental trade-offs, a new study has found. Dr. Jayden Hyman from The University of Queensland's ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / AI matches human teachers: Brief pre-lecture chat boosts students' brain synchrony and learning outcomes

Millions of students worldwide have long relied on self-paced learning through pre-recorded video lectures, a model that forms the backbone of massive open online courses (MOOCs) and large-scale online education. Since the ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Portable sensor detects PFAS in water on-site, cutting need for costly lab tests

A new study has unveiled a new method to cost-effectively and practically test for "forever chemicals" in water, potentially revolutionizing environmental PFAS monitoring. Led by Griffith University, the novel PFAS detection ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Love hormone enters battle mode, exposing rivalry and group lines in Amazon study

The "love hormone" oxytocin (OT) plays a role not only in moments of intimacy but also in competitive situations. Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have shown that OT levels increase when rivalry or clearly defined ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Genetic 'bonus material' boosts gut bacterium's oxygen tolerance up to 1,000-fold

The bacterium Segatella copri is one of the most common inhabitants of the human gut. In their latest study, researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) have discovered that some strains of this bacterial ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Aircraft measurements reveal surprisingly strong Southern Ocean biological productivity

The biological productivity of the Southern Ocean in the summertime is substantially greater than many previous estimates have suggested, according to new airborne research by the U.S. National Science Foundation National ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / 'Indian Niño' drove record heat in 2023 and 2024, new study finds

In 2023 and 2024, Earth's average global surface temperature spiked nearly 0.3 degrees Celsius above what was already expected from climate change. Each year was declared the hottest on record and coincided with deadly wildfires, ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Even the most remote ocean is contaminated with zinc from human sources, research reveals

The vast, deserted South Pacific is considered unspoiled nature. But this ocean is not as unspoiled as we would like to think. A new study by a group of researchers from ETH Zurich and the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean ...

May 6, 2026