Phys.org news

Phys.org / How volcanic eruptions and internal climate cycles jointly shape Asian monsoon rainfall

From the rice paddies of South Asia to the wheat fields of northern China, summer monsoon rains sustain the livelihoods of billions. Yet these vital rains fluctuate dramatically from decade to decade—a variability that ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Female aggression, not just mate choice, may speed mosquitofish speciation

A new study reveals that behavioral isolation between populations of Bahamas mosquitofish is driven primarily by the actions of females—not just through mating choice behaviors, but also through sometimes violent resistance. ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / What primate faces reveal about empathy: Humans mirror emotions across species

Humans perceive emotional expressions displayed by non-human primates and spontaneously mimic these expressions, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Ursula Hess from Humboldt University of ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Friendly fungi hijack plant regulator to promote symbiosis

Plants are constantly on guard. Their roots are equipped with molecular alarm systems that detect invading microbes and trigger immune responses. Yet beneficial soil fungi routinely enter living root cells and establish close ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Biodegradable nanoparticles can seek and destroy diseased immune cells

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have developed a simplified version of biodegradable nanoparticles that can "educate" the immune system to find and destroy disease-causing cells throughout the body. The study, ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / News media representations contribute to stigma around childlessness, study finds

The news media is shaping reproductive narratives and stigma around childlessness, presenting it as a threat to national interests, a deviation from moral or cultural norms, as a risk and, sometimes, as a legitimate life ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Racial/ethnic disparities among people fatally shot by U.S. police vary across state lines

In a new analysis, racial and ethnic disparities in fatal shootings of U.S. residents by police varied widely between states. Roland Neil of the RAND Corporation in California, U.S., and colleagues present these findings ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / 'Stealth' DNA circles safely insert gene-sized payloads into the genome

Genome editing-based therapies typically aim to treat disease by correcting underlying genetic mutations in patient's cells. However, most genetic disorders are caused by dozens or even thousands of unique mutations spread ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Solid but fluid: New materials reconfigure their entire crystal structure in response to humidity

Most solid materials we rely on, from steel, to plastics and ceramics, are designed to have specific properties. Whether a material is soft and flexible, or stiff and tough depends on how molecules within the material are ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Childcare burden may explain US gender gap in poverty rates

Gender differences in poverty rates in the United States may be associated with women's differing circumstances—particularly the burden of dependent children—rather than inherent to gender itself, according to a study ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Typhoons: The hidden lifeline in a drying world

A research team led by Professor Jonghun Kam from POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has revealed that typhoons are a critical factor in mitigating global droughts by simulating a scenario where typhoon-induced ...

Mar 11, 2026
Phys.org / Augmented reality job coaching boosts performance by 79% for people with disabilities, study finds

Employment can be a powerful gateway to independence, dignity, and belonging. Yet for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), that gateway remains limited. Although work supports better health, ...

Mar 11, 2026