Phys.org news

Phys.org / How two dim stars came together to shine brightly

Brown dwarfs get a bad rap in the stellar world, often labeled as "failed stars" for their inability to sustain nuclear fusion at their cores. The mass of these objects falls between planets and stars, ranging from 13 to ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Drought hits gulf fisheries, sparking food security fears

A severe and prolonged U.S. drought in the late 1980s played a central role in one of the largest fisheries declines ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / New ice core studies expand histories of greenhouse gases and ocean temperature to 3 million years

New analyses of ancient ice from Antarctica and the air contained inside it are extending the history of Earth's climate records and expanding researchers' understanding of how the planet has changed over the last 3 million ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Prodrug lipid nanoparticle could unlock universal immunotherapy for solid cancers

Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new type of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) that could one day serve as a universal immunotherapy for cancers that form solid tumors, including common variants such as ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / AI rebuilds molecules from exploding fragments

Researchers at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and collaborating institutions recently built a generative AI model that can recreate molecular structures from the movement of the molecule's ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Dolls beat tablets at building social understanding, six-week study suggests

Research by Cardiff University has found that playing with Barbie dolls can help reach key milestones in developing empathy and social understanding during childhood. Doll play was found to be beneficial for both boys and ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Scientists turn rubber waste into new materials and capture CO₂

Researchers at the University of St Andrews have unveiled two breakthrough techniques for chemically recycling and upcycling nitrile‑rubber products, such as disposable gloves, seals, and industrial parts, into new materials ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Colliding dust and the sparks of creation: Carbon-coated grains provide new clue to life's early energy

Two microscopic grains collide and produce a tiny spark. This phenomenon may have provided the energy to kick off life on Earth. But if these solid particles have the same composition, what factor causes the charge to flow ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Fossilized whale skulls reveal feeding secrets of sharks 5 million years ago

A new study analyzing two fossilized whale skulls from around 5 million years ago has revealed fragments of sharks' teeth lodged inside them. This provides rare evidence of how sharks fed on whales in north European waters ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Using fiber-optic cables to detect moonquakes

Two recent studies suggest that fiber-optic cables laid directly on the moon's surface could potentially detect moonquakes, offering a simpler way to gather seismic data to support future human and robotic exploration.

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Study reveals hidden 'chemical currency' fueling the ocean's carbon cycle

A new study, led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Columbia University, identifies a diverse set of molecules released by marine phytoplankton that fuel microbial life and help drive Earth's carbon cycle. ...

Mar 18, 2026
Phys.org / Satellite data reconstruct 2025 LA fires, showing rapid spread in first day

A severe drought, powerful Santa Ana winds and a not-fully-extinguished brushfire combined to create the most destructive wildfire in the history of Los Angeles in early 2025. The Palisades Fire, which fully ignited on Jan. ...

Mar 18, 2026