Phys.org news

Phys.org / Chimpanzees are better at solving resource dilemmas in larger, more tolerant groups

Despite being one of the most cooperative species on the planet, humans routinely fail to manage shared resources sustainably. We overfish from the oceans, burn fossil fuels, and over-prescribe antibiotics; behaviors that ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Ancient giant kangaroos could hop to it when they needed to, hindlimb study suggests

Giant ancestors of modern-day kangaroos—which previous research has estimated could weigh up to 250 kilograms—may have been able to hop in short bursts, according to research published in Scientific Reports.

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Biofilm streamers harden under flow, making bacterial infections harder to treat

Whether in the human body or on surfaces, bacteria protect themselves from outside attackers using biofilms. Physicist Eleonora Secchi is researching how these slime-like protective films are formed, with the aim of making ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Dark energy survey scientists release analysis of all six years of survey data

The Dark Energy Survey Collaboration collected information on hundreds of millions of galaxies across the universe using the U.S. Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera, mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Hubble uncovers the secret of blue straggler stars that defy aging

Some stars appear to defy time itself. Nestled within ancient star clusters, they shine bluer and brighter than their neighbors, looking far younger than their true age. Known as blue straggler stars, these stellar oddities ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Rule-breaking supermassive black hole discovered in the early universe

An international research team led by scientists at Waseda University and Tohoku University has discovered an extraordinary quasar in the early universe that hosts one of the fastest-growing supermassive black holes known ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Sourdough starters reveal a recipe for predicting microbial species survival

People have long said that "bread is life." Now, researchers at Tufts University are using the bubbling mixtures of flour and water known as sourdough starters to explore what shapes life at the microscopic level. Their findings, ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Rethinking where life could exist beyond Earth

Astronomers have long searched for life within a rather narrow ring around a star, the "habitable zone," where a planet should be neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water. A new study argues that this ring is too strict: ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Human penis size influences female attraction and male assessment of rivals, study suggests

Men assess potential rivals that have a larger penis as more of a threat, both physically and sexually, according to a study by Upama Aich at the University of Western Australia and colleagues, published in PLOS Biology.

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Space station crew credits ultrasound machine for handling in-orbit health crisis

The astronauts evacuated last week from the International Space Station say a portable ultrasound machine came in "super handy" during the medical crisis.

Jan 22, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Amplifying feedbacks could drive Greenland ice sheet to near-complete disappearance

Greenland, which has been prominently in the news in recent days, hosts a vast ice sheet. If it melts, it will become one of the largest contributors to global sea-level rise. Under a high-emissions scenario, the Greenland ...

Jan 22, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Stress-reduction molecule has potential to treat aging and metabolic disorders

University of Queensland researchers say the discovery of a new stress reduction role for a naturally occurring molecule in the body could lead to new drugs and treatment for metabolic disorders and aging.

Jan 22, 2026 in Biology