Phys.org news

Phys.org / Why do high-speed particles bounce higher in wet collisions?

Researchers have uncovered a counterintuitive phenomenon in collision dynamics: high-speed particles bounce back from wet walls much more strongly than expected. Integrating experimental observations with advanced numerical ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Organic matter diversity determines how much iron is available for marine life, study finds

How much of the essential trace element iron remains available for marine life in the ocean depends critically on the diversity of organic molecules in seawater, according to new research published in Nature Communications ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Stick-on gel delivers drugs directly to plants to clear infections quickly

A stick-on gel for plants could one day offer a simple, safe and targeted way to treat diseases and pests. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an adhesive gel that can be loaded with substances, ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Soil, not fertilizer, is primary source of nitrogen gas loss in rice paddies, study reveals

Rice production is heavily dependent on nitrogen fertilizers, particularly in China, where application rates are two to three times the global average. At the same time, a large amount of nitrogen is lost to the environment—mainly ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Handle with care: Mobile microgrippers pick up cells in a pinch

In tissue engineering, the tiniest bit of improper force can harm a living culture. Spheroids—3D clumps of cells—can be used to model complex human tissues, because they can re-create specific cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Zinc–redox crosstalk: A new key to cellular protein quality control

Zinc is an essential trace element that controls myriad biological processes. The delicate balance of its concentration in the body is critical; both deficiency and excess are linked to severe pathological states such as ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Tiny DNA fragments, big agricultural insights: New genomic approach helps improve crop resilience

The genes that could help the world's crops survive drought, heat, and disease probably already exist. But much of this genetic diversity remains hidden within ancient plant varieties and forgotten seed collections, among ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / An interplanetary shortcut can speed up trips to Mars

Whether it's robotic rovers heading to Mars or, one day, a crew of astronauts, a round-trip journey is an incredibly long one. But there may be a way to find a shortcut. A new study published in the journal Acta Astronautica ...

Apr 27, 2026
Phys.org / Bacterial defense system builds DNA in unexpected new way to stop viruses

Scientists at Stanford University have discovered that DRT3, a unique defense system found in bacteria, creates DNA to protect against viral infections. DRT3 is made up of two different enzymes called reverse transcriptases, ...

Apr 27, 2026
Phys.org / Archaeologists at Pompeii use AI to reconstruct the face of a man killed in the volcano's eruption

Archaeologists and researchers at the ancient Roman site of Pompeii have used artificial intelligence for the first time to digitally reconstruct the face of a man killed in the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius that smothered ...

Apr 27, 2026
Phys.org / Simulations predict ground motion for earthquakes on Bay Area's Hayward fault

The Hayward fault, part of the larger San Andreas fault system, runs 74 miles through the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The fault is overdue for an earthquake that could cause extensive damage to such a dense population ...

Apr 27, 2026
Phys.org / This ultracold quantum device turns electricity into something far stranger that could unlock sound-based lasers

Researchers at McGill University have developed a novel device that generates sound-like particles known as phonons at extremely cold temperatures. The technology could be used to create phonon lasers, with possible applications ...

Apr 27, 2026