Phys.org news
Phys.org / Whale hunting began 5,000 years ago in South America, a millennium earlier than previously thought
The hunting of large whales goes back much further in time than previously thought. New research from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) and the Department ...
Phys.org / Scientists call for 'systems reset' to redefine sustainable development
A new international study calls for a fundamental reset in how humanity understands and pursues sustainable development. The article is published in the journal Communications Sustainability.
Phys.org / Scientists find more active black holes in dwarf and Milky Way-sized galaxies by cutting through glare of star formation
Astronomers have completed the most comprehensive census of active galactic nuclei (AGN) to date, providing the clearest picture yet of the probability that galaxies of different sizes host active black holes.
Phys.org / Reviving antibiotics with two-faced nanoparticles
Over the decades, many strains of disease-causing bacteria have evolved defenses to even the most potent antibiotics, setting off a growing health crisis. The rise of antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" has also set off an arms ...
Phys.org / New chemical method makes it easier to select desirable traits in crops
Crops increasingly need to thrive in a broader range of conditions, including drought, salinity, and heat. Traditional plant breeding can select for desirable traits, but is limited by the genetic variation that already exists ...
Phys.org / Experts say oceans soaked up record heat levels in 2025
The world's oceans absorbed a record amount of heat in 2025, an international team of scientists said Friday, further priming conditions for sea level rise, violent storms, and coral death.
Phys.org / Identifying where lithium ions reside in a new solid-state electrolyte that could lead to improved batteries
Recent research published in Science introduces a promising solid electrolyte material that could improve the performance of next-generation lithium batteries, particularly at lower temperatures. Illinois Institute of Technology ...
Phys.org / A tug-of-war explains a decades-old question about how bacteria swim
Scientists have uncovered a new explanation for how swimming bacteria change direction, providing fresh insight into one of biology's most intensively studied molecular machines.
Phys.org / How does glass 'shake' and why does it start flowing when pushed hard enough?
Glassy materials are everywhere, with applications far exceeding windowpanes and drinking glasses. They range from bioactive glasses for bone repair and amorphous pharmaceuticals that boost drug solubility to ultra-pure silica ...
Phys.org / How quiet galaxies stay quiet: Cool gas feeds black holes in 'red geysers'
Astronomers have long puzzled over how some massive galaxies stop forming stars and remain dormant for billions of years—even when they still contain gas that could, in principle, fuel new stars.
Phys.org / New method reveals how mutations drive transthyretin amyloidosis and guides precision drug design
An international research team reveals new molecular mechanisms associated with pathogenic mutations in the protein transthyretin that cause transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), a group of fatal progressive diseases. The results, ...
Phys.org / Uncovering a secret room that a giant virus creates inside its host amoeba
A virus relies on the host's translation machinery to replicate itself and become infectious. Translation efficiency partially depends on the usage of a codon, or sequence of three nucleotides, that matches the cellular pool ...