Phys.org news
Phys.org / Bear teeth break free—the origin of unusual bear dentition
The dental development of modern bears does not follow the typical pattern seen in most mammals. The reason lies millions of years ago in the history of bear evolution. SNSB zoologists have identified two phases in bear evolution ...
Phys.org / Controlling quantum states in germanene using only an electric field
Researchers at the University of Twente and Utrecht University demonstrated for the first time that quantum states in the ultra-narrow material germanene can be switched on and off using only an electric field. The researchers ...
Phys.org / Sexual selection in beetles leads to more rapid evolution of new species, long-term experiments show
When males are forced to compete for females, new species form more rapidly. This has been shown in a new study where the researchers compared beetles allowed to mate freely with groups of the same species where competition ...
Phys.org / Wetlands trap toxic metals after battery plant fire scatters debris
When fire broke out at the world's largest battery energy storage facility in January 2025, its thick smoke blanketed surrounding wetlands, farms and nearby communities on the central California coast.
Phys.org / Nature's greatest method actors: The insects that cosplay bumblebees
Deception is everywhere in nature. Animals and plants routinely cheat, lie and manipulate for their own benefit. One example is mimicry, where one species (the mimic) has evolved to resemble another (the model).
Phys.org / Flood size and frequency found to shape river migration worldwide
A new Tulane University study published in Science Advances sheds light on how floods influence the way rivers move, offering fresh insight into how changing flood patterns may reshape waterways and the communities that depend ...
Phys.org / The functional principles of eye evolution: Light-sensitive stem cells provide new insight
A new study, led by the University of Vienna and the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, shows how the eyes of adult marine bristleworms continue to grow throughout life—driven by a ring of neural stem cells reminiscent ...
Phys.org / Experts propose circular economy to cut waste and pollution from space missions
Every time a rocket is launched, tons of valuable materials are lost, and huge amounts of greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting chemicals are released into the atmosphere. Published in Chem Circularity, sustainability and ...
Phys.org / Sticky beginnings: Surface-bound gels may explain life's origins on Earth
How did life begin? An international team of researchers from Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and Germany suggest that the answer may lie in sticky, surface-bound gels that existed long before the first cells.
Phys.org / Expansion of Antarctic bottom water contributed to end of last Ice Age, study finds
Around 12,000 years ago, the last Ice Age ended, global temperatures rose and the early Holocene began, during which time human societies became increasingly settled. A new study published in Nature Geoscience shows the ...
Phys.org / How to watch the last supermoon of the year
The last supermoon of the year will shine soon in December skies.
Phys.org / Silver-infused zeolite efficiently separates xenon from krypton for industrial use
An international team of researchers have found a better way to separate two rare and important gases—xenon and krypton—that are often combined in chemical, petrochemical, metallurgical, and environmental processes.
