Phys.org news

Phys.org / Would you return a favor? Scientists say it depends on the relationship

When a friend buys you a cup of coffee, it's likely that next time, you'll return the gesture. This type of reciprocal generosity has been well-documented in behavioral economics studies. However, anthropologists and other ...

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / Ocean glow meets 3D printing with living gels that sense mechanical force

The integration of biological organisms into synthetic structures offers a radical new pathway for developing intelligent, self-powered materials. Researchers have pioneered an innovative approach to biomanufacturing by using ...

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / How bacteria use acetyl coenzyme as a building block in the formation of cells

Researchers at the University of Greifswald have discovered a new mechanism by which bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis can regulate the production of the central metabolic molecule acetyl coenzyme A (Acetyl-CoA). Acetyl-CoA, ...

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / Third-grade impulses linked to lower academic achievement and education into adulthood

Can your behavior in third grade predict outcomes in high school and beyond? A new study, published in Developmental Psychology, says yes.

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / Salmonella genomes reveal 45 previously unknown toxins in foodborne bacteria

Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have discovered 45 new toxins produced by Salmonella bacteria, some of which are associated with foodborne infections. The study was conducted at the Center for Research ...

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / Why animal calls sound alike in time: Most species share a common communication tempo

From insects to great apes, by way of birds and fish, animals communicate through an extraordinary variety of sounds. While the pitch or timbre of their vocalizations matters, rhythm may play a more fundamental role. Scientists ...

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / Even weak ocean models can provide valuable information for environmental forecasts, study shows

Oxygen depletion in the western Baltic Sea is not uncommon. Oxygen-poor conditions regularly occur in deeper waters, placing stress on marine ecosystems and, in extreme cases, causing fish kills. As ocean temperatures continue ...

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / Cyclone Gabrielle-style storms may unleash tens of thousands more North Island landslides

In 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle triggered an estimated 800,000 landslides across the North Island, making it one of the most extreme landslide events ever recorded. New research by Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury ...

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / Novel nanowire device offers rapid, noninvasive cancer detection

A research team in Japan has developed an efficient, minimally invasive cancer detection device that uses high-performance zinc oxide nanowires to selectively capture extracellular vesicles (EVs) from bodily fluids.

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / 'Janus-faced' nanomaterials pave the way for selectively capturing radioactive pollutants

A KAIST research team has succeeded, for the first time, in synthesizing the core raw material for fabricating asymmetric MXene, a so-called "Janus-faced" nanomaterial that can perform distinct functions because of differing ...

Jun 11, 2026
Phys.org / Human evolution was messy and gradual, not an abrupt revolution, argues archaeologist

It is generally accepted by archaeologists that modern humans originated in Africa and dispersed worldwide, while other hominins went extinct. Yet how and when Homo sapiens dispersed out of Africa, and whether it was an abrupt ...

Jun 10, 2026
Phys.org / Chimpanzees react negatively to unfairness, especially when close partners are nearby

Primates, including humans, are among the social animals living on Earth. Their survival relies heavily on cooperation with others, alliances, the sharing of resources and other social interactions.

Jun 10, 2026