Phys.org news

Phys.org / Showing real climate wins and friendships helps people join collective climate efforts

What does it take to spur individuals to act as a group with a shared purpose on climate change? According to a new Stanford-led study, the key is to show them how collective actions on climate have made a difference and ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Streaks on Mercury show that it is not a 'dead planet'

Although Mercury was geologically active in its early days, today its surface appears almost completely static. This is why it is often perceived as a dead and dry planet. A new study led by Dr. Valentin Bickel from the Center ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Magnetic superhighways discovered in a starburst galaxy's winds

Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international team of astronomers has mapped a magnetic highway driving a powerful galactic wind into the nearby galaxy merger of Arp 220, revealing for the ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Artificial nighttime lighting is suppressing moth activity, new research shows

Moths move significantly less when exposed to artificial nighttime light, new research shows. Moths' attraction to artificial light, such as streetlights, is common knowledge and has been much studied. But, as many people ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / First radio signals from rare supernova reveal star's final years

Astronomers have captured the first radio waves ever detected from a rare class of exploding star, a discovery that has given them an unprecedented look into the final years of a massive star before its death in a powerful ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Tornado-forecast system can increase warning lead times, study finds

Researchers at the University of Kansas have shown the National Severe Storms Laboratory's Warn-on-Forecast System (WoFS) has potential to help weather forecasters issue warnings to emergency managers and the general public ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Global health impacts of plastics systems set to double by 2040

The adverse health impacts associated with emissions across the full life cycle of plastics could double by 2040 unless immediate action is taken, new research suggests. The study identified health harms at every stage of ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Ocean fronts revealed as key players in Earth's carbon cycle

Narrow bands of ocean covering just over one-third of the world's seas are responsible for absorbing nearly three-quarters of the carbon dioxide that oceans pull from the atmosphere, new research shows. The study, published ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Twisted oxide crystals show how atomic patterns alone can trap or repel electrons

It has been revealed that simply twisting and stacking two layers of oxide crystals can allow the atomic arrangement itself to control the behavior of electrons. Much like the new patterns that emerge when two meshes are ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Reconfigurable robotic fish reveals how stiffness and wave propagation shape swimming performance

How can some fish, like tuna, achieve remarkable speed while others, like eels, excel in maneuverability? A research team from Peking University (PKU) has developed a novel robotic platform that sheds new light on this classic ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / A new route to synthesize multiple functionalized carbon nanohoops

The field of nanomaterials is witnessing a transformative shift at the intersection of organic chemistry and molecular engineering. Among the most promising molecular structures are carbon nanohoops, of which [n]cycloparaphenylenes ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Nanotechnology
Phys.org / Raman sensors with push-pull alkyne tags amplify weak signals to track cell chemistry

Seeing chemistry unfold inside living cells is one of the biggest challenges of modern bioimaging. Raman microscopy offers a powerful way to meet this challenge by reading the unique vibrational signatures of molecules. However, ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Chemistry