Phys.org news

Phys.org / Chandra resolves why black holes hit the brakes on growth

Astronomers have an answer for a long-running mystery in astrophysics: why is the growth of supermassive black holes so much lower today than in the past? A study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other X-ray telescopes ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / 600-year-old pinot noir grape found in medieval French toilet

A 600-year-old grape seed discovered in the toilets of a medieval French hospital is genetically identical to the grapes still being used to make pinot noir wine, scientists said Tuesday.

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Bio-based polymer offers a sustainable solution to 'forever chemical' cleanup

Researchers at the University of Bath have discovered a renewable, bio-based polymer membrane capable of efficiently capturing toxic "forever chemicals" from water, offering a potential new route to more sustainable water ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Electronics of the future: Ultra-efficient graphene switch developed at nanometer scale

A team of researchers from Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with colleagues from Japan, has taken an important step toward the next generation of electronics. The scientists achieved highly precise control of the internal ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Boys ditch books when schools close—girls keep reading: Study

When holidays or pandemics shut down schools, gender differences in children's reading habits widen; boys stop reading, while girls continue, according to a new study from the University of Copenhagen. The researchers say ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Mammal cloning cannot be endless: Mouse line fails at generation 58

There is a limit on how many times a mammal can be cloned before suffering "mutational meltdown," Japanese scientists have discovered, after making 1,200 clones over two decades that started off with a single mouse.

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / NASA to build $20 bn moon base, pause orbital lunar station plans

NASA's chief on Tuesday said the US space agency will invest $20 billion to develop a base on the moon, while suspending its plans to create the lunar orbital space station known as Gateway.

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Boron arsenide semiconductor sets record in quantum vibrations

You may not be able to hear it, but all solid materials make a sound. In fact, atoms—bound in lattices of chemical bonds—are never silent nor still: Under the placid surface of each and every object in our surroundings, a ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Single-cell imaging and machine learning reveal hidden coordination in algae's response to light stress

Researchers from several Parisian institutions have worked together to develop a non-destructive approach to study how unicellular organisms respond to stress, focusing on cell-to-cell differences. Working together, the researchers ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Nanoparticles enable large-scale production of advanced cell therapies

Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China have developed a streamlined process that makes it easier to produce tiny therapeutic particles released by cells, called exosomes, which are being explored ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / Mathematical framework maps landscape of student knowledge via short quizzes

When we learn something new, that information does not exist in isolation. It integrates into the complex landscape of our knowledge, forging connections with existing ideas and opening up possibilities for new learning. ...

Mar 24, 2026
Phys.org / A solar system in the making? Two planets spotted forming in disk around young star

Astronomers have observed two planets forming in the disk around a young star named WISPIT 2. Having previously detected one planet, the team has now employed European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescopes to confirm the ...

Mar 24, 2026